Former Homeland Security Officer Charged with Child Pornography in North Carolina

Philip Andrew Douglass, a former Homeland Security Enforcement and Removal Operations officer from Pineville, North Carolina, appeared in federal court facing charges of possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) from July to August 2024. Investigations uncovered that Douglass knowingly possessed, accessed, and distributed these illegal images while employed as a federal immigration officer. He was released on a $25,000 secured bond with conditions including electronic monitoring and allowing warrantless searches of his property. The case is being led by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation in collaboration with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations, as part of the nationwide Project Safe Childhood initiative aimed at combating online exploitation of children. U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson and SBI Director Chip Hawley emphasized their commitment to holding offenders accountable, especially those in positions of public trust. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Cervantes is prosecuting the case.