Brad Bevington, CSAM Distribution, Indiana 2023

INDIANAPOLIS – Brad Bevington, 51, of Indianapolis, is headed to federal prison for over a decade after continuing his depraved activity while out on bond for related charges. Bevington was sentenced to 12.5 years for distributing horrific child sexual abuse material (CSAM) via Snapchat, proving once again that online anonymity doesn’t shield predators.

The case began in April 2021 when Bevington was initially arrested in Marion County, Indiana, for child exploitation offenses. Authorities found he was uploading files depicting children engaged in sexually explicit conduct to both Twitter and Dropbox. Released on a $100,000 surety bond, Bevington didn’t learn his lesson. Instead, he doubled down on his crimes.

Just three months later, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) received a CyberTip from Snapchat, flagging an account later identified as belonging to Bevington. The tip detailed uploads of videos showing adults engaging in sexual intercourse with prepubescent boys. Investigators quickly determined Bevington was actively using Snapchat to share these deeply disturbing videos with other users, all while theoretically abiding by the conditions of his release.

“Those who sexually exploit children using online platforms are dangerous predators,” stated Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “These criminals should pay great attention to the sentence imposed today. Our law enforcement partners will identify you and make our children safer by sending you to federal prison.” The U.S. Secret Service Indianapolis Field Office, led by Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey R. Adams, and IMPD, under Chief Randal Taylor, jointly investigated the case.

U.S. District Judge James R. Sweeney didn’t just hand down a lengthy prison sentence. He also ordered Bevington to pay $11,000 in restitution to the victims of his vile acts and $250 to the Amy, Vicki and Andy Act Fund. Upon his release, Bevington will be required to register as a sex offender wherever he lives, works, or attends school. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristina M. Korobov prosecuted the case.

This case highlights the relentless work of the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, a collaborative effort between federal, state, and local agencies. In fiscal year 2019, the Southern District of Indiana ranked second nationally in the number of child sexual exploitation cases prosecuted, demonstrating the region’s commitment to fighting this horrific crime. The investigation was conducted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a national initiative aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse. This is a stark reminder that the digital world offers no refuge for those who prey on the innocent.

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