Cowansville, Quebec Man Who Attempted to Enter the United States with Child Sexual Abuse Materials Sentenced to 24 Months

Rutland, Vermont - The United States Attorney's Office for the District of Vermont stated that on March 17, 2026, Anthony Hamel, 25, of Cowansville, Quebec, Canada, was sentenced by United States District Judge Mary Kay Lanthier to a term of 24 months' imprisonment to be followed by a 5-year term of supervised release. Hamel previously pleaded guilty to Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) Involving a Minor Under the Age of 12.

According to court records, Hamel applied to enter the United States from Canada at the Morses Line Port of Entry (POE) on May 9, 2025. Based on his responses to screening questions, Hamel was referred to a secondary inspection by the Customs and Border Protection Officer (CBPO). During the secondary inspection, Hamel indicated that he was entering the United States to meet an 18-year-old high school student with whom he had been talking online for approximately six months. CBPOs conducted a manual search of Hamel's cellular phone during the secondary inspection, and they discovered what appeared to be CSAM on the device. The CBPOs contacted the Burlington Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) to assist with the investigation. HSI investigators responded to the Port of Entry, confirmed the suspected CSAM on the phone, interviewed Hamel, and later searched the phone in depth pursuant to a federal search warrant. Investigators ultimately located approximately 268 videos and 33 images of CSAM on the device, including depictions of the sexual assaults of prepubescent children, toddlers, and infants and at least two depictions involving bondage, discipline, sadism, or masochism.

First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the vigilance and investigatory efforts of the Office of Field Operations of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the subsequent support by Special Agents with Homeland Security Investigations. "Every day, Customs and Border Protection Officers protect Americans by performing vital screening functions at our Ports of Entry. This case underscores the importance of CBP's work, and the need to vet those who cross our borders."

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Lasher. Hamel was represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Barclay Johnson.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.