David Lynn Wells, 32, of Anderson, will spend 30 years in federal prison for making and distributing child sexual abuse material—a case which originated in the United Kingdom.
Wells is currently serving time in the South Carolina Department of Corrections for sexual battery involving two children, which is not related to the British investigation.
British authorities identified Wells as the suspect in their investigation after reviewing the electronic devices of a person they arrested for possession of child sex abuse material. Evidence included a 2020 video call with the name David Wells visible on the screen.
British authorities contacted Homeland Security Investigations which led to the location of the victim's mother who would have Wells periodically watch her child when they lived in the same apartment complex. The mother was able to identify Wells based on images from the video.
Wells' prison sentence will be followed by lifetime supervision.
The case was investigated as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to prevent the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.