Seven years later, the man accused of cultivating that collection has been sentenced. James William Thomas III was sentenced Wednesday to 40 years in prison. Now 36, Thomas will be well into his 70s when heâs released from federal custody. Prosecutors, however, had pushed for 55 years, citing the magnitude of damage Thomas is accused of inflicting on underage girls and his apparent lack of remorse. âThe facts of the case paint the picture of a true sexual predator,â prosecutors said in sentencing documents. âThe defendant sought out potentially almost 200 victims, lied to them, groomed them, and abused and exploited them to gratify his own sexual lust.â