Ex-Homeland Security officer arrested in Charlotte child porn case
A former Homeland Security officer from Pineville appeared in federal court in Charlotte Friday on charges of possessing and distributing child pornography, U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson said.
Philip Andrew Douglass, 42, was freed on bond after an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge David Keesler.
Douglass declined to comment when reached by The Charlotte Observer. His lawyer, Justin Olsinski of Charlotte, couldn’t be reached for comment.
The judge released Douglass on a $25,000 secured bond on charges of possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material, court records show.
Keesler ordered Douglass to wear electronic monitoring pending further court action.
According to a criminal indictment unsealed in court Friday, Douglass is accused of possessing and distributing child porn from July 24 to Aug. 20, 2024.
Douglass was an enforcement and removal operations officer with Homeland Security Investigations at the time, according to a news release from Ferguson’s office.
It wasn’t immediately known when Douglass was hired or when he left the agency.