British man who traveled to Palm Springs for sex with kids sentenced to 13 years federal prison

A British man who traveled to the Coachella Valley to engage in sexual conduct with brothers who were 10 and 12 years old was sentenced to 13 years in federal prison on Wednesday. The sentencing was handed down in a Los Angeles courtroom.

Paul Charles Wilkins, 70, of Littleport in East Cambridgeshire, England, pleaded guilty last year to one federal count of transportation of child pornography. He was arrested by the Department of Homeland security at a rented apartment in Palm Springs on Feb. 11.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Gee ordered Wilkins to pay a $25,000 criminal fine and a $5,000 special assessment under the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015, according to a release from Thom Mrozek with the U.S. District Attorney’s Office of California.

Wilkins, who had dual U.S.-United Kingdom citizenship, was indicted on charges of traveling with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, attempted sex trafficking of children, transportation of child pornography and
possession of child pornography.

Wilkins admitted that he traveled to the United States from the United Kingdom in January for the purpose of having sex with the boys, and that in February, he attempted to solicit a 9-year-old boy for sex in exchange for $250 at an apartment he had rented.

In addition, Wilkins admitted he possessed child pornography on his computer and brought child porn from the United Kingdom into the United States, including graphic sexual images of boys between the ages of 5 and 8.

Under a plea agreement, he agreed to a sentence of 13 years’ imprisonment and a lifetime of supervised release.

“This defendant persistently engaged in the sexual exploitation of children,” said United States Attorney Eileen M. Decker. “He was the administrator of an online group used by men to discuss their sexual interest in children, he traveled to the United States to have sex with two young boys, and he made arrangements with undercover agents to have sex with another young boy. Today’s sentence ensures that children will be
protected from his abhorrent conduct for many years.

Wilkins, who was sentenced for porn by an English court in 2011 and was on probation when he came to the United States, is scheduled to be formally sentenced Wednesday morning by U.S. District Judge Dolly M. Gee in Los Angeles.

“This defendant learned firsthand the fate that awaits predators who come to this country to sexually exploit our children,” said Joseph Macias, special agent in charge for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations in Los Angeles.

Macias added that “traveling pedophiles,” such as Wilkins, “wrongly believe that purchasing an airline ticket and boarding a plane puts them out of the reach of the law.”