New Mexico State Police Officer Arrested for Possession and Transportation of Child Pornography

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced today that Sammy Allen Clouthier, 44, of Carlsbad,  made an initial appearance in federal court on a criminal complaint charging him with possession of child pornography and transportation of child pornography.

According to the criminal complaint, on April 18, 2023, the FBI was made aware of a tip provided to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) on Dec. 29, 2022, by cloud service provider Synchronoss Technologies, Inc. Synchronoss provides content storage for the wireless communication service provider Verizon. Synchronoss reported images depicting apparent child sexual abuse material (CSAM) were uploaded to an account associated with Clouthier’s phone number and device. Follow-up investigation revealed that Clouthier, a sergeant in the New Mexico State Police, downloaded, possessed, and transported child pornography using his cellular devices.

A criminal complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Clothier faces a mandatory minimum of 5 years up to 20 years in prison.

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque Division Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force of the Federal Bureau Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Eliot Neal is prosecuting the case.

Mercer Resident Pleads Guilty to Threatening FBI Agents

In a significant development, a resident of Mercer, Pennsylvania, has pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of interstate threats and influencing or retaliating against a federal officer by threat. Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti made the announcement today, highlighting the seriousness of the case.

Adam Bies, a 47-year-old individual, has admitted to fourteen counts before United States District Judge William S. Stickman IV. The court was informed that Bies made explicit threats to murder, injure, and assault agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) following the FBI's search of former President Donald Trump's home in Florida on August 8, 2022, conducted under a federal search warrant.

The sentencing for this matter is scheduled for October 4, 2023. If convicted, Bies could face up to 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both, as stipulated by the law. The actual sentence imposed will be determined based on the seriousness of the offenses committed and the defendant's prior criminal history.

As per the court's order, the defendant will remain detained pending sentencing. Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey R. Bengel is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government, ensuring that justice is served.

The investigation leading to the prosecution of Adam Bies was conducted by the diligent efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Their commitment to ensuring the safety and security of the nation played a crucial role in bringing this case to light.