Minneapolis Man Gets 16 Years for Child Porn, Sexually Exploiting Minors

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – In a brazen display of callous disregard for the safety of children, Michael Francis Hamer, 56, was sentenced to 192 months in prison for his role in a disturbing child pornography ring.

According to court documents and evidence presented during his trial, Hamer, a Minneapolis resident, repeatedly accessed and distributed child pornography online between August 2020 and January 2022. His crimes, however, went far beyond mere possession. On multiple occasions, he directly messaged self-identified minor victims, some as young as 11, to request and distribute images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of minors.

Hamer’s actions were not only despicable but also reckless. He joined Facebook Messenger group chats with names like ‘Boys sex video,’ ‘Kids Video Sex,’ and ‘#Good Boy?,’ soliciting and accessing child sexual abuse images. This is not the first time Hamer has been convicted of a sex crime. In 2012, he admitted to possessing child pornography, and his 2012 conviction required him to register as a predatory offender with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

Hamer’s federal trial took place on December 7, 2023, where he was convicted of one count of receipt of child pornography, one count of distribution of child pornography, and two counts of access with intent to view child pornography. Sentencing took place today in U.S. District Court before Judge Katherine M. Menendez, who described Hamer’s conduct as ‘relentless behavior.’ The judge noted that the long-term damage to the victims depicted in the child sexual abuse material was immeasurable, and that reviewing one of the videos at trial ‘is something I can never unsee.’

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, with assistance from the Minneapolis Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations. It was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hillary A. Taylor, Emily A. Polachek, and Chelsea A. Walcker prosecuted the case. This case is a stark reminder of the need for continued vigilance in protecting our children from predators like Hamer. His sentence serves as a warning to others who would seek to harm our most vulnerable citizens: justice will be swift and merciless.

In a statement, U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger said, ‘The sentence handed down to Michael Francis Hamer serves as a reminder that we will continue to prioritize the safety and protection of our children in this district.’

This case highlights the critical importance of community involvement and awareness in preventing child exploitation. If you or someone you know is a victim of child pornography or exploitation, please contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or visit www.missingkids.org for help.