Update, July 19, 2024:

James Patrick Burns was sentenced to 65 years in prison and a lifetime of supervised release for eight counts of sexual exploitation and eight counts of coercion and enticement of a child and one count each of advertising, receiving, distributing, and possessing child pornography after he was convicted on those charges on March 5, 2024.

According to court documents Burns committed these offenses between 2018 and 2021, when he was already a registered sex-offender. 

During this period, Burns was considered one of the largest creators of illegal content on these forums. 

Burns was ordered to pay $82,655.92 in restitution and $21,000 in assessments under the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act. 

According to the United States Department of Justice his offenses came to light when a mother of one of his victims saw the threats on her child's phone and made a report to the police.

 Original Story, March 6, 2024:

According to the Department of Justice, a federal jury convicted James Patrick Burns, 55 and from Sparks, for sexually exploiting multiple minors, and advertising and distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) that he coerced the minors into producing. 

He was convicted of eight counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, eight counts of coercion and enticement of a minor, and one count each of advertising, receiving, distributing, and possessing child pornography.

He was also convicted, in a separate trial, for committing felonies while being a registered sex offender.

Burns is scheduled to be sentenced on June 10. He faces anywhere from 25 years to life in prison. 

According to court documents and evidence, Burns used Omegle, Snapchat, Tiktok, and Mega.NZ to exploit multiple minors. 

He threatened the minors into producing CSAM and then posted it on dark web forums. 

His victims included over 100 children, many of whom haven't been identified yet.

November 2021

The Department of Justice says a Reno man has been indicted on charges of child sexual exploitation and child pornography.

Prosecutors say James Patrick Burns threatened two children on social media to get them to send him videos and images of child pornography. He then allegedly advertised and distributed those images online.

Burns is charged with two counts of sexual exploitation of children, one count of advertising child pornography, one count of distribution and receipt of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography. 

His trial is scheduled to start on January 3, 2022. If convicted, he faces 50 years in prison for each count of child exploitation.

ORIGINAL STORY: JULY 2021

A registered sex offender was arrested recently for allegedly possessing child pornography.

Washoe County Sheriff's Office says Sparks detectives and partners with the Northern Nevada Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force arrested 52-year-old James Burns on July 27.

Detectives were alerted to Burns' alleged activities in July by the Los Angeles Sheriff's Office and FBI, regarding an investigation involving a juvenile female victim. Further investigation identified a suspect in Sparks, Nevada.

Detectives served a search warrant and collected electronic and digital evidence.

Burns in self-employed, he is also a registered sex offender and was compliant with his registration.

The investigation is ongoing and additional charges are expected.

Detectives are asking anyone with knowledge of this case to contact Washoe County Sheriff's Office at (775) 328-3320 or Secret Witness (775) 322-4900. You will remain anonymous.