Man Sentenced In Sexual Exploitation Of 2 Children

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — A Fort Washington man has been sentenced for sexually exploiting two children and producing child sex abuse material.

According to a plea agreement, David Jamal Watson, 40, sexually exploited two children from September 2023 to October 2023. The children were 9 and 13 years old at the time. Watson produced, distributed and attempted to sell child sex abuse materials (CSAM) using platforms such as Telegram, Instagram, Twitter and Google to store and distribute the victims' materials and items depicting other children.

In July 2023, the Maryland Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received two CyberTips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, indicating that a Google user uploaded 51 files of suspected CSAM to Google’s platform between October 2022 and July 2023. Authorities traced the tips to an IP address associated with Watson’s Fort Washington address, according to court documents.

Then in October 2023, law enforcement obtained and executed a search warrant for Watson’s residence. During an interview, Watson admitted to viewing, retaining and distributing CSAM. On the morning of the search, MSP also seized five devices from a basement bedroom where Watson was sleeping, documents detailed.

During a forensic analysis of Watson’s devices, law enforcement identified more than 600 CSAM images, including nude images and videos of Watson’s victims and other children. Law enforcement also found conversations on Telegram between Watson and other users in which he referenced charging money for nude images of his victims, court documents stated.

In November 2023, law enforcement arrested Watson at his residence on a federal arrest warrant. During an interview, Watson said that he recorded the nude images of his victims at his residence. Additionally, law enforcement obtained a search warrant for the contents of Watson’s Instagram account, which revealed conversations in which he attempted to sell CSAM depicting his victims to at least three other Instagram users, the plea agreement stated.

U.S District Judge Paula Xinis sentenced Watson to 30 years in federal prison, followed by 15 years of supervised release and also ordered that, upon release from prison, Watson must register as a sex offender in the places where he resides, is an employee, and is a student, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.