Immigration News Today: Child Predator Gets 50 Years
A Missouri man admitted to recording himself sexually abusing young girls — one as young as 8 or 9 years old — and sharing those images online. On May 19, 2026, a federal judge sentenced Richard James Miller to 50 years in prison. The case shows how a single tip to federal agents can unravel years of hidden abuse.
Missouri Man Sentenced to 50 Years for Child Sexual Abuse
Richard James Miller, 41, of St. Francois County, Missouri, was sentenced to 50 years in federal prison on May 19, 2026. He pleaded guilty in February to two counts of production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) — meaning he recorded himself sexually abusing children and shared those recordings. The case was announced by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) St. Louis and the U.S. Department of Justice.
The investigation began in 2024 after agents searched a New Jersey man's home and found Kik messenger chats — messages sent through the Kik app — between that man and Miller. Those chats contained images of child sexual abuse. When HSI agents located and interviewed Miller, he admitted to engaging in sex acts with young girls at his home. He also admitted sharing photos of one victim in a Kik group chat. Court records show Miller recorded his abuse of two juvenile victims between January 1, 2022, and May 24, 2024. One victim said her abuse started when she was 15. The second said she began spending time at Miller's apartment when she was 8 or 9 years old. Miller threatened to kill relatives of both victims. He also threatened to make one victim watch him kill her two dogs.
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A third juvenile victim was identified during the investigation but did not present a statement in court. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Bateman told U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp that she was abused in the same manner. HSI St. Louis worked with the Park Hills Police Department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol's Division of Drug and Crime Control. The case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide Department of Justice program launched in May 2006 to fight child sexual exploitation and abuse.
What to Do If You Know About Child Exploitation
- Report it immediately. If you know of a child being abused or exploited, call the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) at 1-800-843-5678 or report online at CyberTipline.org.
- Contact HSI. Homeland Security Investigations takes these cases seriously. You can report tips at tips.dhs.gov. You do not need to be a U.S. citizen to make a report.
- Know your rights as a witness. If law enforcement contacts you as a witness — not a suspect — you have the right to speak with an immigration lawyer before answering questions that could affect your immigration status.
- Seek support. If you or someone you know is a victim, organizations like RAINN (rainn.org) offer free, confidential support in multiple languages.
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Immigrants who are victims of or witnesses to serious crimes like child exploitation may qualify for a U visa (a special visa for crime victims who help law enforcement) — this can provide legal status and work authorization. If federal agents contact you as part of an investigation, you have the right to remain silent and to consult an attorney before answering questions that could affect your immigration status. Every situation is different, so speak with an immigration lawyer before making any statements to law enforcement.