Brayden M. Swathwood, Possession of Child Pornography, Missouri 2026

Grimy Times Exclusive: Local Man Embroiled in Child Pornography Scandal

A 29-year-old St. Louis County man has admitted to possessing and discussing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on his mobile phone and online for years, according to a recent court filing.

Brayden M. Swathwood, a resident of St. Louis County, Missouri, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. In addition to the guilty plea, Swathwood admitted to exchanging CSAM with someone in Georgia and claiming in online discussions that he was sexually abusing a 4-year-old minor and planned to record that abuse. It’s worth noting that there is no evidence to support Swathwood’s claims about the minor.

On December 17, 2024, Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in St. Louis conducted a court-approved search of Swathwood’s apartment in St. Louis County and his vehicle. The search yielded his cellphone and other electronic devices, which were seized as evidence. Following the search, Swathwood was interviewed and admitted to viewing and discussing CSAM online.

The investigation into Swathwood’s activities was conducted by HSI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson is prosecuting the case.

Swathwood is scheduled to be sentenced on May 12, 2026. The charge carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both prison and fine.

This case 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 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section. The goal of Project Safe Childhood is to marshal 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.

Swathwood’s guilty plea serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of child pornography and the importance of holding individuals accountable for their actions. As our community continues to grapple with the complexities of child exploitation, it’s essential that we prioritize the safety and well-being of our children.

Grimy Times will continue to provide updates on this case as more information becomes available.

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