CHARLESTON, W.Va. — An investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Charleston and the West Virginia State Police resulted in a Missouri man receiving a decade-long prison sentence for a child sexual abuse material crime Feb. 6 at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia.
Daniel Phillip Beckman, 46, of Watson, Missouri, received the sentence of 10 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for receipt of child sexual abuse material. He must also register as a sex offender.
“Daniel Phillip Beckman represents the most detestable segment of society,” said HSI Washington, D.C. Special Agent in Charge Derek W. Gordon. “Such individuals prey on innocent children for their own disgusting gratification. HSI Washington, D.C. will continue to work tirelessly with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to investigate and apprehend anyone engaged in such deranged and predatory behavior.”
According to the investigation, on or about Nov. 27, 2022, Beckman began communicating with a minor female living in West Virginia through an internet instant messaging app while at his Missouri residence. During these communications, Beckman offered to pay her to send him nude images and videos of herself.
Beckman admitted that he paid the girl approximately $625 through a mobile payment service in exchange for images and videos that she sent him on Snapchat. Some of these images were graphic in nature. Beckman admitted that he believed she was a minor when he received her photos and videos, and that he saved several of the images to his phone.
The investigation further revealed that on or about Dec. 6, 2022, the girl introduced Beckman to her friend, also a minor. Beckman admitted that he began communicating with the other girl via the internet instant messaging app and paid her through a mobile payment service for several images and videos that depicted her nude. He also admitted that he believed her to be a minor when he received the images, and that he specifically described to her how he wanted her to pose.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia prosecuted the case.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative of the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.
Anyone with information regarding sextortion, child sex predators or child sexual abuse material is encouraged to call the HSI Tip Line at 877-4-HSI-TIP (877-447-4847). The HSI Tip Line is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Learn more about HSI’s mission to increase public safety in your community on X, formerly known as Twitter, @HSI_DC.
About HSI
HSI is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel and finance move. HSI’s workforce of more than 8,700 employees consists of more than 6,000 special agents assigned to 237 cities throughout the United States, and 93 overseas locations in 56 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’ largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.