A former Master Sergeant of the Massachusetts National Guard, Nicholas Wells, has been sentenced to 78 months in a United States federal prison for possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material.
Wells, 45, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani in Boston and will also be placed under supervised release for five years after completing his prison term.
The former military officer, who was previously assigned to the 102nd Security Forces in Sandwich, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty in September 2025 to federal charges involving the possession and distribution of child pornography.
He was initially indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2024.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, Wells used an encrypted messaging application to communicate about his sexual interest in minors and distribute illegal digital material.
A forensic examination of his mobile phone uncovered more than 300 images and over 100 videos containing child sexual abuse material.
Investigators also established that he had distributed more than 70 videos depicting child sexual abuse, including some involving infants.
U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley and FBI Boston Division Special Agent in Charge Ted E. Docks commended the law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation, stressing the importance of coordinated efforts in protecting children and prosecuting offenders.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian J. Sullivan of the Criminal Division, with investigative support from the Massachusetts State Police, Barnstable Police Department and Sandwich Police Department.
The prosecution was brought under Project Safe Childhood, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative established in 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and strengthen collaboration among law enforcement agencies in bringing offenders to justice.
