LOS ANGELES – A British man who traveled to the Coachella Valley to have sex with pre-teen boys and later pleaded guilty to transportation of child pornography was sentenced today to 13 years in federal prison.

Paul Charles Wilkins, 70, of Littleport in East Cambridgeshire, England, a dual United States-United Kingdom citizen, was sentenced this morning by United States District Judge Dolly M. Gee.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Gee ordered Wilkins to pay a $25,000 criminal fine and a $5,000 special assessment under the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015. Following the completion of his prison term, Wilkins be on supervised release for the rest of his life.

Wilkins pleaded guilty in September to one count of transportation of child pornography. When he pleaded guilty, Wilkins admitted that he traveled to the United States from the United Kingdom in January 2016 for the purpose of having sex with two brothers who were 10 and 12 at the time. When that plan fell apart, Wilkins made arrangements with an undercover law enforcement officer to have sex with a 9-year-old boy in exchange for $250 at an apartment he had rented. Additionally, Wilkins admitted he possessed child pornography on his computer and brought child pornography from the United Kingdom into the United States, including graphic sexual images of boys between the ages of 5 and 8.

“This defendant persistently engaged in the sexual exploitation of children,” said United States Attorney Eileen M. Decker. “He was the administrator of an online group used by men to discuss their sexual interest in children, he traveled to the United States to have sex with two young boys, and he made arrangements with undercover agents to have sex with another young boy. Today's sentence ensures that children will be protected from his abhorrent conduct for many years.”

The investigation into Wilkins was conducted by special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

“Given his age, this prison term virtually assures the defendant will not be a sexual threat to young people again,” said Joseph Macias, special agent in charge for HSI Los Angeles. “This sentenced should also serve as a sobering reminder to pedophiles who wrongly believe they can outrun the law and indulge their perverse desires by buying an airline ticket and boarding a plane. HSI will continue to work closely with its law enforcement partners in the U.S. and around the world to hold these dangerous sexual predators accountable for their actions.”

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christina T. Shay of the Violent and Organized Crime Section.

USAO – California, Central Updated January 18, 2017

Central District of California DOJ/ 17-010 / January 18, 2017