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A Connecticut man gets a 10-year federal prison sentence. Investigators found thousands of child sexual abuse files on his electronic devices.
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Probation officers first found an unauthorized cellphone with a dark web program during a routine home visit, sparking a wider investigation.
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According to the court, the defendant must serve 20 years of supervised release. Also, he will pay over $181,000 in restitution to 24 victims.
Jason Gibson, 46, of Ledyard, pleaded guilty to possessing child sexual abuse material earlier this year. On Wednesday, a federal judge sentenced him to 10 years behind bars. He must also complete 20 years of supervised release after leaving prison.
His dark deeds blew open after probation officers found a cellphone with ties to the dark web. A later review of that phone and another storage device opened up a large collection of illegal images and videos.
Routine Probation Visit Led Investigators to the Dark Web
Court records show Gibson was already serving probation because of an earlier child sexual abuse material conviction as of March 6, 2024. Probation officers visited and discovered a cellphone that violated the terms of his probation. They seized the device for further examination.
According to prosecutors, forensic specialists later found dark web software installed on the phone. Investigators also recovered more than 200 images and videos showing child sexual abuse. Authorities said they also found text messages containing links to websites that allegedly monetized child sexual abuse material through the dark web.
The dark web is also used for other criminal activities. A hacker has claimed the sale of 638,000 federal bank records on underground forums.
Those discoveries pushed investigators to examine Gibson’s other electronic devices. Nearly one year later, on April 2, 2025, probation officers returned to his home and seized an external hard drive. According to federal prosecutors, forensic experts examined the drive.
They found more than 18,000 illegal images and about 1,400 illegal videos. Authorities said Gibson has remained in federal custody since that search. The investigation focused on the files stored on his devices. Officials have not said they believe Gibson had direct contact with victims or produced the material himself.
An Earlier Conviction Increased the Federal Penalty
Court documents show Gibson had already faced similar criminal charges several years earlier. He was convicted in Connecticut state court in February 2020 for possessing child sexual abuse material. After serving his sentence, he left state custody in January 2021.
Prosecutors said Gibson later violated the conditions of his probation in April 2023. Due to that violation, a judge revoked his probation and ordered him back to prison for another term. He was released again in August 2023.
Less than a year later, probation officers started the investigation that led to the latest federal case. Gibson pleaded guilty on January 13, 2026, to one count of possessing child sexual abuse material.
According to federal prosecutors, his earlier conviction meant he faced tougher penalties under federal law. The court later imposed a 10-year prison sentence because of the seriousness of the offense and his criminal history.
Court Orders Long-Term Supervision and Victim Payments
The federal court ordered Gibson to pay $181,500 in restitution to 24 victims identified in the illegal images and videos investigators recovered. After completing his prison sentence, Gibson must remain under supervised release for 20 years. During that time, he will have to follow strict conditions set by the court. Several law enforcement agencies worked together on the investigation.
Homeland Security Investigations led the case alongside the New Haven Police Department. Police departments in Groton, Watertown, and Westport also assisted during the investigation. Federal prosecutors handled the case under the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood program.
The nationwide initiative focuses on finding people involved in the online exploitation of children, gathering digital evidence, and bringing offenders before the courts. According to federal prosecutors, the case began with what appeared to be a routine probation compliance check.
That visit uncovered an unauthorized phone, dark web software, and evidence that led investigators to thousands of illegal files stored on multiple electronic devices.
The sentencing brings the federal case to a close, but Gibson will remain under court supervision for two decades after completing his prison term. The restitution order also ensures financial compensation for the 24 victims identified during the investigation.
