Magician throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island sentenced to prison for exploiting children

BOSTON – A Sutton man who worked as a magician for over 20 years across Massachusetts and Rhode Island was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for exploiting children in Cambodia.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Justice, 47-yer-old Scott Jameson was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard Stearns to 78 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Jameson was also ordered to pay $20,000 in special assessments. In November 2023, Jameson pleaded guilty to one count of illicit sexual conduct in a foreign place and one count of transportation of child pornography.

“Scott Jameson thought that by travelling overseas to Cambodia in order to sexually exploit children, he could get away with it. He was wrong,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “Sexual exploitation of children is unconscionable, regardless of where the victims live. Our office works with international authorities regularly to make sure that individuals like Mr. Jameson are held accountable for their criminal conduct. We will not cease in our efforts to bring individuals who harm children to justice.”

“This predator with a passport traveled halfway around the world and engaged in illicit sexual conduct with a child and then brought back home evidence of that sexual abuse so he could relive it for his own sick gratification,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Child sexual exploitation is abhorrent anywhere it occurs, and the FBI will continue to go after Americans who travel abroad for that purpose. We’re determined to bring them to justice for the damage they’ve done and prevent them from victimizing anyone else’s child.”

In early 2022, Action Pour Les Enfants (APLE), a Cambodian Non-Governmental Organization founded to prevent child sexual abuse and exploitation, contacted federal authorities in the United States to report that Jameson engaged in inappropriate behavior with minors in Cambodia. An investigation revealed that, while in Cambodia, Jameson would provide gifts and money to children and their families. Children reported that he would visit the pagoda where they lived and sleep in a room with the children.

In September 2022, authorities in the United States were notified that Jameson, a dual citizen of the United States and Ireland, had again traveled from Boston to Cambodia in August 2022. Upon his return to the United States on Oct. 19, 2022, Jameson was stopped at Logan Airport. During a search of his belongings, a video was discovered which he produced during his most recent trip to Cambodia, depicting the genitals of a young boy who was approximately seven years old. Jameson admitted to creating the video and transferring it from his camera to a hard drive that he possessed when he was stopped at Logan Airport. Additionally, Jameson’s laptop revealed that it had been used to view images of child sexual exploitation material.

During a subsequent interview with law enforcement, Jameson stated that he worked as a magician for over 20 years, regularly performing at libraries and private and family events across New England, usually for children as young as kindergarten age and up to the eighth grade.

            Members of the public who have questions, concerns or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274.

            Acting U.S. Attorney Levy and FBI SAC Cohen made the announcement today. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by United States Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security Investigations and the Sutton and Littleton Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen M. Noto of the Worcester Branch Office prosecuted the case.