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Nathan Branham, Obscene Material to Minor, Cheraw SC, 2021
CHERAW, SC – Nathan Branham, 40, of Cheraw, South Carolina is headed back to federal prison for nearly seven years after pleading guilty to a horrifying crime: coercing a 13-year-old girl in Kentucky into performing obscene acts online. The sentence comes as Branham was already on supervised release for a previous federal firearm conviction, proving a pattern of disregard for the law and a clear danger to the public.
The case, a multi-state operation led by the U.S. Secret Service and Kentucky/South Carolina ICAC task forces, revealed Branham used the online live-streaming app Uplive, operating under the screen name “Mystic,” to target the victim. He lied about his age, claiming to be sixteen, and manipulated the girl into a video chat via Google Duo. It quickly became apparent to the minor that Branham was an adult male, but he allegedly attempted to explain this away with a fabricated genetic condition.
When the girl tried to end the call, Branham escalated to threats, telling her he would find her address and “have a little talk” with her if she didn’t continue the conversation. He then demanded she expose herself, and reciprocated the act after she complied. The victim immediately reported the incident to her parents, who confronted Branham – during which he falsely claimed to be a police officer and blamed the girl’s “children” for initiating the contact. They, thankfully, contacted authorities.
The Kentucky Attorney General’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force sprung into action, quickly tracing Branham to South Carolina. Within a week, a joint operation with the Secret Service and the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office ICAC task force resulted in his arrest. This wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment act; investigators uncovered admissions from Branham that he’d engaged in similar interactions with minors on over thirty separate occasions, and even admitted to having sexual intercourse with a minor when he was 29 years old.
Acting United States Attorney M. Rhett DeHart made a clear statement: “This office will always protect children and will act swiftly to prosecute those who seek to do them harm.” Senior United States District Judge Terry L. Wooten sentenced Branham to 21 months for violating his supervised release, while United States District Court Judge Sherri A. Lydon imposed a 60-month sentence for transferring obscene material to a minor. The sentences will run consecutively, ensuring Branham faces a substantial period behind bars.
Branham’s history includes prior convictions for indecent exposure and assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature. He’d only been out of federal prison for three months after serving over eight years for the firearm offense before resuming his predatory behavior. This case underscores the relentless work of law enforcement in tracking down and prosecuting those who prey on vulnerable children, even across state lines. It’s a grim reminder of the dangers lurking in the digital world, and the urgent need for continued vigilance.
Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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