Mark Travis Brigham, Sexually Exploiting Minors, Maryland 2023

A federal grand jury in Maryland has indicted Mark Travis Brigham, 36, of Mount Airy, for sexually exploiting minors to produce child sexual abuse material.

According to the indictment, between September 2023 and December 2024, Brigham persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced two minor females to engage in sexually explicit conduct. Brigham exploited the minors for the purpose of producing visual depictions of the sexually explicit conduct. Further, the indictment alleges that Brigham possessed child sexual abuse material on four digital devices.

Brigham faces seven counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, each carrying a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison. Additionally, he faces a maximum of 10 years in federal prison for one count of possessing child sexual abuse material.

The case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.

U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes commended HSI, Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, and State’s Attorney’s Office for Frederick County for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexandria A. Bell and Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Budlow who are prosecuting the federal case.

The indictment is a result of an investigation by HSI, Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, and State’s Attorney’s Office for Frederick County. Brigham is presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.

For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit justice.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, visit justice.gov/psc and click on the ‘Resources’ tab on the left of the page.

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