Paul William Flett, a 44-year-old resident of Humbolt, Iowa, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for the sexual exploitation of a child. The sentencing took place on June 3, 2025, in Sioux City, Iowa. Flett had entered a guilty plea on January 23, 2025.
According to evidence presented during the case, Flett distributed links and images of child pornography to underage girls and solicited them for images and videos. A search warrant executed at his residence on June 6, 2024, revealed that he admitted to these actions during an interview with law enforcement. He also confessed to hiding his phone upon their arrival because he anticipated their visit was related to his activities. Forensic analysis of Flett’s electronic devices and Kik account uncovered a total of 16 videos and 60 images depicting child pornography. These included content that Flett requested children record themselves performing.
The sentencing was conducted by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Flett received a sentence of 180 months in prison and was ordered to pay $3,600 in restitution and assessments. Additionally, he will serve five years of supervised release following his imprisonment. In the federal system, there is no provision for parole. Until his transfer to a federal prison, Flett remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
This prosecution was part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at addressing child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide. This initiative coordinates efforts among federal, state, and local resources to locate offenders who exploit children and rescue victims.
The investigation involved multiple agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Cyber-Crime Unit, and Webster County Sheriff’s Office in Missouri. Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit prosecuted the case.
