Jacob Walden, of Valley Stream, convicted of child pornography counts, faces minimum 15-year prison term

A Valley Stream man faces a minimum of 15 years in federal prison after his conviction Thursday in Central Islip of possessing child sexual abuse materials, federal officials announced.

Jacob Israel Walden, 40, "paid children to create sexually explicit images and videos for his own gratification" and stored them on his cellphone, Joseph Nocella, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said in a statement.

Newsday previously identified Walden as a co-owner and executive of Emerald Healthcare, a Woodmere-based company that manages assisted living and nursing facilities nationwide. Additional information about the company was not immediately available late Thursday.

Marc Agnifilo, Walden’s defense attorney, did not immediately respond to a telephone message seeking comment.

On multiple occasions, Walden purchased the illicit materials "from an online production and distribution ring," the release said. He also contacted minors through social media and encrypted messaging services and paid them "to produce sexually explicit images and videos of themselves." He also used victims to recruit others.

Walden gave the children he paid detailed instructions "about the content they should produce for him," and "insisted that they address him as ‘daddy,’ ” Nocella’s office said.

In his statement, Nocella thanked "the victims who came forward and testified about his depraved conduct."

After a three-day trial before U.S. District Judge Gary R. Brown, a federal jury convicted Walden Friday of sexual exploitation of children, receipt of child pornography, possession of child pornography and access with intent to view child pornography, according to the release. He faces a minimum of 15 years and up to life imprisonment when sentenced.