Michael Brandan Griffith Sentenced to Prison for Possessing Child P…

BEAUMONT, TEXAS – In a chilling testament to the Department of Justice’s unwavering commitment to protect children from sexual exploitation, Michael Brandan Griffith, a 25-year-old resident of Beaumont, Texas, has been sentenced to federal prison for his despicable crime of possessing material involving the sexual exploitation of children.

Today before United States District Judge Marcia Crone, Griffith was handed a sentence of 78 months for his heinous acts. On April 9, 2013, Griffith pleaded guilty to charges that he had been harboring explicit content featuring prepubescent children under the age of 12 engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

The case took an ugly turn on January 20, 2012, when federal and local law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at Griffith’s residence. The operation yielded several computers and digital storage devices, which were found to contain approximately 111 images and 59 videos of child pornography.

United States Attorney John M. Bales announced the sentence, highlighting that this case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the burgeoning epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The project coordinates federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who exploit children through the Internet.

This investigation was a collaborative effort between the Beaumont Police Department and the Department of Homeland Security – Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Tortorice handled the prosecution, ensuring justice was served for the innocent victims exploited by Griffith.

For more information on Project Safe Childhood and its efforts to combat child sexual exploitation, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.