Brian Tate Charged With Attempted Minor Enticement, Child Porn Transport

Brian Tate, 34, of Gordon, Pennsylvania, is facing federal charges after being indicted on November 15, 2016, for attempting to entice a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity and transporting child pornography across state lines via computer. The indictment, unsealed in Scranton by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, marks the latest flashpoint in an ongoing crackdown on online predators.

According to U.S. Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the charges stem from a two-week period between October 17 and November 9, 2016, during which Tate allegedly used the internet to target and pressure a minor into sexual conduct. Simultaneously, federal investigators say he transported explicit material involving children through digital means—acts that violate federal statutes designed to protect the youngest and most vulnerable.

If convicted, Tate faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison on the enticement charge alone. The child pornography transportation count carries a mandatory five-year sentence, with a ceiling of 20 years. Both charges come with the threat of lifelong supervised release and steep financial penalties, underscoring the severity with which federal courts treat such crimes.

The investigation was a coordinated effort between Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Postal Inspectors, and the Pennsylvania State Police. Their joint operation highlights the multi-agency muscle now routinely deployed under Project Safe Childhood, the Justice Department’s nationwide initiative launched in 2006 to dismantle networks of child sexual exploitation and rescue victims.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa is leading the prosecution. The case remains ongoing, with Tate presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. A trial date has not yet been set. Federal sentencing, should a conviction occur, will be determined by the judge after weighing statutory guidelines, the nature of the offenses, and Tate’s personal history.

Project Safe Childhood continues to serve as a central pillar in the federal fight against child predators. For more information, the public is directed to www.usdoj.gov/psc, which includes educational resources on internet safety and victim support. This case serves as a grim reminder: predators are being tracked, charged, and brought to justice—one indictment at a time.

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