HP Trice Arrested for Allegedly Trading Child Sexual Abuse Material Through Encrypted Apps and Cloud Storage

Federal authorities have arrested HP Trice, identified as Malik Jamal Rashad Trice, 35, following an investigation into the alleged distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material using encrypted messaging platforms and cloud-based storage services.

According to a federal complaint, agents executed a search warrant on New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, 2025, at Trice’s home in Detroit, Michigan. Investigators say Trice was inside the residence at the time of the search. During the operation, agents recovered an Apple iPhone located near where Trice had been sleeping. Trice reportedly confirmed the device belonged to him.

Federal investigators state that a review of the phone uncovered multiple videos in the “recently deleted” folder that met the federal definition of child sexual abuse material. Authorities allege some of the content involved very young children.

The complaint further alleges that Trice used Telegram, an encrypted messaging application, to communicate with individuals and groups involved in requesting and sharing illegal material. Investigators say those exchanges included discussions about trading files stored on cloud services such as Dropbox.

In one alleged exchange from September 2025, Trice reportedly offered to trade multiple folders of files in exchange for other content. Authorities say file names and previews referenced age ranges that investigators believe corresponded to minors.

Following the exchange, investigators allege Trice received preview files containing images consistent with child sexual abuse material. Based on the evidence gathered, federal agents moved forward with arrest and charges.

Trice has been charged with Receipt or Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Material and Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material under federal law. Court records show he is scheduled to appear for a detention hearing on Tuesday, January 6, 2025.

The case remains under investigation as federal authorities continue reviewing seized devices and digital accounts.