Michael Brannon, Child Pornography, Missouri 2019

Lebanon Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Producing Child Pornography

A 32-year-old Lebanon, Missouri man was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison without parole for producing child pornography.

Michael Brannon was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes on Aug. 5, 2019, after pleading guilty to producing child pornography on Aug. 5, 2019. The charges stem from an online conversation between Brannon and a 16-year-old victim, identified as 'Jane Doe #1,' that took place in June 2018.

During the chat, which was sexual in nature, Jane Doe #1 transmitted pornographic images to Brannon at his request. The case was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Lebanon, Mo., Police Department, and the Lake Area Cyber Crimes Task Force.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Kelleher. It was brought as 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. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab 'resources.'

Michael Brannon, 32, pleaded guilty to producing child pornography on Aug. 5, 2019, in federal court. He was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison without parole by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes.

This case is a prime example of the coordinated efforts of law enforcement agencies to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. The Lebanon, Mo., Police Department, Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Lake Area Cyber Crimes Task Force worked together to investigate and prosecute Brannon.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdmo/pr/lebanon-man-sentenced-15-years-producing-child-pornography