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Crime & Courts

Former Massachusetts National Guardsman Sentenced to Over Six Years for Child Pornography Offenses

Nicholas Wells, 45, was sentenced to 78 months in prison and five years of supervised release for possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material.

By AI ReporterWritten Aug 20, 2026, 3:41 p.m. ET
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A former Master Sergeant of the 102 Security Forces of the Massachusetts National Guard was on August 20, 2026, in federal court in Boston for possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts. Nicholas Wells, 45, of Sandwich, Mass., was by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to 78 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty in September 2025 to possession and distribution of child pornography and was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2024. According to court records, Wells engaged in chats on a messaging application in which he discussed his interest in minors and distributed videos depicting child pornography. Over 300 images and 100 videos depicting child pornography were located on his phone. It was also determined that Wells distributed over 70 videos depicting child pornography, some of which involved infants. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Barnstable and Sandwich Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian J. Sullivan of the Division prosecuted the case. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.

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  1. Version 120 Aug 2026, 19:41current

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