Ex-US Guard Sergeant Jailed 78 Months For Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material

A former Master Sergeant of the Massachusetts National Guard, Nicholas Wells, has been sentenced to 78 months in prison by a United States federal court in Boston for possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material.

Wells, 45, was sentenced on Thursday by US District Court Judge Indira Talwani, who also ordered him to serve five years of supervised release after completing his prison term.

Wells, who was previously attached to the 102nd Security Forces stationed in Sandwich, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty in September 2025 to charges involving the possession and distribution of child pornography.

He was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2024.

According to a statement issued by the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, Wells used an encrypted online messaging application to engage in explicit conversations about his interest in minors and to distribute illegal digital content.

A forensic examination of his mobile phone uncovered more than 300 images and over 100 videos depicting child pornography.

Investigators also determined that Wells had distributed more than 70 videos containing explicit material, some of which involved infants.

“Nicholas Wells, 45, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to 78 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. In September 2025, Wells pleaded guilty to possession and distribution of child pornography,” the statement read.

“He was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2024.”

The US Attorney’s Office added: “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.”

US Attorney Leah B. Foley and the Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Boston Division, Ted E. Docks, commended the law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation.

The prosecution was led by Assistant US Attorney Brian J. Sullivan of the Criminal Division, with operational support from the Massachusetts State Police, Barnstable Police Department and Sandwich Police Department.

The case was prosecuted under Project Safe Childhood, a US Department of Justice initiative launched in May 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and strengthen efforts to identify and prosecute offenders.