United States of America v. Brandon Michael Halsey

Cedar Rapids, IA criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with possession of child pornography

Crawford County, Iowa Man Sentenced to Federal Prison

Brandon Michael Halsey, age 20, from Denison, Iowa, was indicted for knowingly receiveding, distributing, and possessing visual depictions of child pornography. Evidence in the case showed that on May 6, 2022, a Kik user was reported to have uploaded/shared two videos that depicted child pornography. This activity was reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and a CyperTip report was generated. Law enforcement reviewed the two videos and determined that at least one of the videos involved a minor who had not attained the age of 12 years old.



Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Halsey's home, and he admitted to possessing approximately 100 files of images and videos depicting child pornography. Additionally, Halsey admitted he also sent images and videos to other Kik users. While Halsey was walking to the agent's vehicle he attempted to discard two iPhones outside in a nearby snowbank. Law enforcement officers observed this, and the iPhones were seized as evidence. A forensic review of all three phones showed Halsey possessed 263 images and 104 videos of child pornography. The images and videos included depictions of toddlers, bondage, and sadistic and masochistic conduct.



Halsey was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Halsey was sentenced to 72 months' imprisonment. He was ordered to pay $18,600 in restitution and assessments. He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.



This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources.”



The case was investigated by Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation-Cyber Crime Bureau-Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit.