Tracy Elizabeth Hansen, 37, was arrested on March 26 in Fallon by Homeland Security on allegations of distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online, with bail set at $580,000. She was arraigned in New River Township Justice Court the following day and released on her own recognizance (OR). However, following her recent arrest in Storey County, Hansen was returned to custody in Fallon for violating the terms of her release.
The Churchill County charges against Hansen are among the most serious offenses in Nevada law. Hansen is facing 29 separate counts of distributing CSAM. In this case, investigators cited dozens of videos depicting the sexual abuse of children, some as young as newborns. Each count is a Category A Felony punishable by life in prison with the possibility of parole after 10 years and up to $100,000 in fines. Upon conviction, each count requires 25 years of sex offender registration.
The Promotion of Sexual Performance of a Minor is a child pornography offense, or as it is more commonly referred to today, child exploitation. Under Nevada law, it is a felony to knowingly create, promote, or share material depicting a minor engaged in or simulating sexual acts, or displaying private body parts.
During Hansen’s arraignment on March 27, the court conducted a screening to determine whether she qualified for representation by the public defender. Hansen reported that she is an accountant with Robert Half International, a large accounting staffing firm. She said she had been placed at Cal Nevada Precision Blasting and takes home approximately $4,000 per month.
Hansen also told the court she owns a home on one acre. Based on her income alone, Judge Benjamin Trotter determined she did not technically meet the standard $32,000 income threshold for indigent defense. When asked about the possibility of obtaining a second mortgage to retain private counsel, Hansen replied, “I don’t think I would be able to, no.” Hansen also told the court that an attorney she contacted quoted a fee of $500,000, with $50,000 required up front. Judge Trotter ultimately appointed the Churchill County Office of Public Defender to represent her.
Public Defender Jacob Sommer requested Hansen’s release, after which Trotter conducted a Valdez-Jimenez hearing. The court reviewed several factors, including Hansen’s zero score on a Court Services-administered risk assessment, her lack of criminal history, home ownership, and whether she posed a flight risk or danger to the community. The judge determined Hansen was eligible for OR release.
The terms of Hansen’s pretrial release included weekly contact with counsel, no new criminal violations, and no new employment without approval of the court, the defense, and the state. She was also prohibited from going to places where children gather, having children at her residence, or visiting pornographic or fetish websites. Judge Trotter informed Hansen that any violation of those conditions would result in her immediate return to jail.
Around the same time as Hansen’s arrest in Fallon, the Storey County District Attorney’s Office alleges she was involved in other criminal activity, although neither jurisdiction was aware of the other investigation at the time.
The Storey County District Attorney’s Office filed a criminal complaint against Hansen in Virginia Township Justice Court on June 1, charging her with two counts of Theft of $100,000 or More, Category B Felonies, punishable by 1–20 years in prison and fines up to $15,000.
Count I alleges that between March 19 and March 20, 2026, Hansen, individually or in concert with Chao Fang and/or other unknown persons, willfully and without lawful authority converted or made an unauthorized funds transfer. Specifically, the complaint alleges she “changed the recipient and diverted an electronic payment of $100,000 from Cal Nevada Precision Blasting to a Bank of America account belonging to Chao Fang, which was not the original, legitimate account of ENAEX explosive company, the vendor who was supposed to receive the money.”
Count II alleges a similar scheme between March 26 and March 27, 2026, again identifying Fang as the recipient of another $100,000 transfer from Cal Nevada Precision Blasting.
Hansen posted bail on June 5 after it was set at $80,000 bondable. She is now in custody at the Churchill County Detention Center, as the two new criminal charges constitute a violation of the terms of her OR release.
Hansen is expected to reappear in Justice Court in the coming weeks.
All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. Criminal charges are allegations, and defendants are entitled to due process and a fair trial under the law.
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