CONCORD, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) — A former Harrisville man has been sentenced to 27 years in federal prison for purchasing and directing live-streamed child sex abuse, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Hampshire.

U.S. District Judge Paul J. Barbadoro sentenced 46-year-old David Mendum, now of Epping, on Wednesday to 324 months behind bars for coercion and enticement of a minor, followed by five years of supervised release. Prosecutors say Mendum paid a child sex trafficker in the Philippines to produce live-streamed sexual abuse of children and transmit it to him online.

Investigators found he financed the abuse hundreds of times over several years, paying more than $39,000, according to Homeland Security Investigations. Federal officials said the sentence reflects the seriousness of the crime and the global effort required to bring the case forward.

The Department of Homeland Security led the investigation with assistance from the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and Epping police. The case was prosecuted under Project Safe Childhood, a national initiative aimed at combating child exploitation.