HSI Baltimore Investigation Lands Maryland Sex Offender 40 Years in Federal Prison for Multiple Counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

BALTIMORE — An investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore, the Maryland State Police, the Harford County Sheriff’s Office and the Aberdeen Police Department landed a Maryland man 40 years in federal prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release for sex crimes against a minor.

Nicholas Paul Bryson, 41, of Aberdeen, received the decades-long prison sentence July 31 for two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor.

Furthermore, Bryson was ordered to pay $16,000 in restitution to his victims. After his release from prison, Bryson will be required register as a sex offender in the place where he resides, where he is an employee and where he is a student under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.

“Nicholas Paul Bryson is justly facing a lengthy prison sentence,” said HSI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge Michael McCarthy. “As he serves this sentence, we sincerely hope that the victims and their families can begin to heal from the harm Bryson has inflicted. HSI Baltimore is dedicated to working closely with our law enforcement partners to investigate and apprehend anyone who threatens the safety of children in our Maryland communities.”

According to the investigation, from 2011 until 2013, Bryson and his wife and codefendant, Heather Clark, repeatedly sexually abused a prepubescent minor in their care and produced numerous sexually explicit videos and images of the abuse.

In addition, a federal search warrant identified approximately 1,000 depictions of child sexual abuse from various seized devices.

Clark, 37, previously pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and is currently awaiting sentencing on Sept. 4. She faces 60 years in federal prison.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.

This investigation was conducted by HSI Baltimore, the Maryland State Police, the Harford County Sheriff’s Office and the Aberdeen Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.

Anyone with information about child sexual abuse material or other crimes is highly encouraged to contact the HSI Tip Line at 877-4-HSI-TIP. Callers may remain anonymous.

Learn more about HSI Baltimore’s mission to increase public safety in our Virginia communities on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @HSIBaltimore.