Mass. national guardsman admits to possessing, distributing child sex abuse material
A 44-year-old former Master Sergeant in the Massachusetts National Guard admitted in federal court Tuesday to possessing and sharing child sexual abuse materials, according to U.S. Attorney Leah Foley's office.
Nicholas Wells , who was stationed in Sandwich, was indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2024. He pleaded guilty this week to a single count each of possession of child pornography and distribution of child pornography.
He is set to be sentenced on Jan. 6, 2026.
Investigators found more than 400 images and videos on Wells' phone depicting child sexual abuse. He also distributed more than 70 videos depicting child sexual abuse, some of which involved infants, Foley's office said.
Wells participated in several conversations on the text messaging application Kik where he discussed his sexual interest in minors and depicted videos showing child sexual abuse, Foley's office said.
Each charge Wells pleaded guilty to carries a sentence of up to 20 years and a fine of up to $250,000.
In a plea agreement filed in federal court, federal prosecutors recommended a sentence of 97 months, or a little more than 8 years, in prison for Wells, followed by five years of supervised release and a fine of more than $60,000.
The terms of a plea agreement are subject to review by a federal judge, meaning Wells could get more or less time in prison than laid out in the agreement.
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