Michael Brace, Child Sexual Exploitation, California 2023

A Modesto man was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his role in child sexual exploitation, according to federal authorities.

Michael Brace, 33, was found guilty of two counts of receipt and distribution of material involving the exploitation of minors, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

The prison sentence is to be followed by 10 years of supervised release during which Brace’s access to computers, the internet, and minors will be restricted.

Between Aug. 7, 2020, and Jan. 4, 2021, Brace knowingly received visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, including images of prepubescent minors and violence being inflicted on victims.

Brace also communicated with an undercover law enforcement officer posing as a 13-year-old female on the social media platform Skout and traveled to Fresno with the belief that he would engage in sexual activity with the purported minor.

The case was the product of an investigation by the Central Valley Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, specifically the Fresno and Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Offices, and Homeland Security Investigations.

Assistant U.S. Attorney David Gappa prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.

For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edca/pr/modesto-man-sentenced-10-years-prison-child-sexual-exploitation-convictions