OAKLAND, CA – Michael Patterson, a resident of Brentwood, California, is facing serious federal charges after a sting operation revealed a disturbing double life. Patterson was indicted by a federal grand jury for receiving child pornography and possessing an unregistered short-barreled rifle, according to a statement released by U.S. Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey.
The case began to unravel in late May 2023 when the Silicon Valley Internet Crimes Against Children (SV-ICAC) Task Force launched an operation targeting predators online. Undercover officers posing as a 13-year-old girl engaged Patterson in sexually suggestive conversations, culminating in plans for an in-person meeting. When Patterson arrived at the prearranged location, he was immediately taken into custody. A search of his vehicle yielded the phone used for illicit communication, and a loaded .38 caliber revolver found right beside it.
But the depravity didn’t stop there. Authorities discovered that Patterson possessed over 600 videos and 1,200 images of child sexual abuse material on multiple electronic devices. A subsequent search of his residence revealed a veritable armory: dozens of firearms, firearm components, boxes of ammunition, and sophisticated firearm manufacturing equipment – including a computerized gun milling machine. Three of the seized firearms were unregistered short-barreled rifles, and one was a fully automatic machine gun, escalating the severity of the charges.
Patterson’s initial court appearance was held on May 6, 2024, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Donna M. Ryu, who ordered him detained pending trial on May 16, 2024. The government’s detention memorandum paints a grim picture of a dangerous individual with a clear disregard for the law and the safety of children. He is now scheduled to appear before U.S. District Judge Haywood S. Gilliam, Jr. on June 26, 2024, in Oakland.
The indictment alleges violations of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(2) and (b) – the child pornography charges – and 26 U.S.C. § 5861(d), pertaining to the illegal firearms. If convicted, Patterson faces a maximum sentence of twenty years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the child pornography offenses, and an additional ten years imprisonment and a $10,000 fine for the firearms violation. Restitution may also be ordered. It’s important to remember an indictment is not proof of guilt.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonah Ross, along with Kay Konopaske and Claudia Hyslop, are prosecuting the case, the result of a joint investigation by the U.S. Secret Service (USSS), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), SV-ICAC, the Brentwood and Walnut Creek Police Departments, and the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office. This case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing fight against online exploitation and the proliferation of illegal weapons in our communities.
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Weapons|Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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