June 03, 2008

Michigan man indicted in videoing of his child exploitation

DETROIT - A Warren man was indicted today on charges he coerced a five-year-old girl to engage in sex acts that he videotaped. This indictment is the result of an investigation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Warren Police Department.

Bryan Brown, 36, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Detroit on charges of sexual exploitation of children and possession of child pornography, United States Attorney Stephen J. Murphy announced today. Murphy was joined in the announcement by ICE Special Agent in Charge Brian Moskowitz and Commissioner William Dwyer, Warren Police Department.

The indictment charges that between June of 2007 and April of 2008, Brown enticed and coerced a five-year-old girl to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a videotape of the act. Brown was also charged with possessing numerous images of child pornography. He is currently being held on state criminal sexual conduct charges in Macomb County and will appear in federal court on the federal charges next week.

An ICE investigation identified Brown as a paying subscriber to a child pornography Web site. During the course of that investigation, ICE learned that the Warren Police Department was also conducting its own investigation of Brown involving allegations of criminal sexual conduct.

United States Attorney Murphy said, "This office has an unwavering commitment to protect the children of our community and bring sexual predators to justice. We are using all law enforcement agencies - federal state, and local - to combat the sexual abuse of minors."

"The sexual exploitation and abuse of a child is one of the most heinous acts imaginable," said Brian Moskowitz, special agent in charge for the ICE Office of Investigations in Detroit. "ICE will continue to work in conjunction with the U.S. Attorney's Office and our local law enforcement partners to protect our communities from sexual predators. Simply put, we have an obligation to protect those who cannot protect themselves."

If convicted, Brown faces a mandatory minimum of 25 years and up to 50 years in custody. Any sentence will be imposed considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, based on the nature of the charges and the criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government's burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John N. O'Brien II.

Brown was arrested as part of Operation Predator, a national ICE initiative that protects children by investigating and presenting for prosecution pedophiles, Internet predators, human traffickers, international sex tourists, and other predatory criminals. Since Operation Predator was launched in July 2003, ICE agents have arrested more than 10,900 child predators and sex offenders nationwide, including 270 in Michigan. For more information about Operation Predator, visit www.ice.gov.

ICE encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-DHS-2ICE. This hotline is staffed around the clock by investigators.

Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, at 1-800-843-5678 or Cyber Tipline.

-- ICE --

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was established in March 2003 as the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE is comprised of five integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities.

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