Aberdeen Man Gets 5 Years for Child Porn Distribution

Brian Kenneth McCort, 41, of Aberdeen, Maryland, is going away for five years — no excuses, no leniency — after pleading guilty to distributing child pornography across a peer-to-peer file-sharing network. U.S. District Judge Marvin J. Garbis handed down the sentence today, followed by a quarter-century of supervised release, ensuring McCort will be watched the moment he walks free.

Between June and July 2015, investigators with the Maryland State Police logged three separate instances where McCort’s computer pushed dozens of files containing child sexual abuse material over the internet. Using a P2P program designed for file sharing, McCort didn’t just access this vile content — he actively spread it. Each download by law enforcement was a direct transfer from his machine, sealing his guilt.

On September 2, 2015, federal agents raided McCort’s home with a search warrant and seized his laptop. What they found was stomach-turning: at least 26 images and 213 videos showing minors in sexually explicit acts. A flash drive tucked away held another 152 images and 17 videos. Some of the children were as young as two years old — infants, violated and recorded, their trauma preserved and shared.

Judge Garbis didn’t mince words. Upon release, McCort must register as a sex offender under SORNA — at his home, workplace, and any school he attends. There will be no hiding. The 25-year supervised release means GPS monitoring, random searches, and strict controls on his internet access, all designed to keep predators like him in check.

This case was prosecuted under Project Safe Childhood, the DOJ’s nationwide crackdown on child sexual exploitation. Spearheaded by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and supported by federal and local agencies, the initiative targets distributors and collectors of child pornography with zero tolerance. The goal: arrest, prosecute, and lock up those who profit from the suffering of children.

Acting U.S. Attorney Stephen M. Schenning commended HSI Baltimore, DCIS, and the Maryland State Police for their relentless work. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul Budlow and Daniel Gardner handled the prosecution. McCort’s name now joins the ranks of predators exposed — a warning to others lurking in the digital shadows.

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