Registered sex offender sentenced to 35 years for sexual exploitation of children and receipt and distribution of visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct

“Serial child predators bring these significant terms of incarceration on themselves. It is as simple as that,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bridget M. Brennan. “Despite prior convictions for similar conduct, this defendant chose to sexually exploit a child and also to repeatedly exploit other children by receiving and distributing more than 100 images of them. Because of the collaborative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, as well as the dedication of the Assistant U.S. Attorneys who prosecute these matters, this predator’s 35-year term of incarceration guarantees that he is no longer a threat to our children.”

“This is a lengthy, well-deserved sentence,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric B. Smith. “Marquand has a history of sexually exploiting minors and it’s clear he learned nothing from his prior incarceration.  Fortunately, this most recent sentence will ensure this predator will be kept away from children for 35 years.  All of us share a responsibility to protect innocent children, especially from sexual predators, whether online or in your own home.”

“This predator, who is a previously convicted sex offender, sexually abused a minor and uploaded more than 100 files of child abuse material,” said Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley. “Our community is significantly safer with him behind bars for the next 35 years.”

According to court records and statements made during courtroom proceedings, in October of 2019, the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) received a tip from the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children that a Google email address had uploaded 120 images of known child pornography to Google Photos. Through subpoenas, investigators traced the IP address used to upload the photos to Defendant James Marquand, who was living in Madison, Ohio.

At the time of the investigation, Marquand was on parole from a conviction in Cuyahoga County for attempted rape and unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. Additionally, Marquand was a registered sex offender who had been convicted for not providing notice of his change of address, in violation of his Sex Offender Registration provisions and was currently living at an address from which he was prohibited.

Law enforcement reviewed Marquand’s Google account in response to a federal warrant and found fifty-six files depicting minors engaged in sexual conduct. These images were uploaded to a Google account belonging to Marquand between March and September of 2019. Later, Marquand’s Google account was forensically analyzed and found to contain 150 images and 97 videos of child pornography. Court records state that the account also contained sexually explicit images and videos of Minor Victim #1, a four-year-old girl engaged in sexual conduct with Marquand.  

Law enforcement officers interviewed Marquand, and he admitted to engaging in the conduct with Minor Victim #1 on multiple occasions and recording some instances on his cellphone. 

This case was investigated by the Cleveland Division of the FBI, Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Cleveland Adult Parole Authority (APA) Sex Offender Unit. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carol M. Skutnik and John C. Hanley.