ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Editor's note: This story discusses child sex abuse material, which is also known as child pornography. While nothing is discussed in detail, reader discretion is advised.
A federal jury in Asheville, North Carolina deemed an Indiana man guilty of bringing child sexual abuse material to North Carolina and distributing it, according to the U.S. District Attorney's Office for the Western District of North Carolina.
44-year-old Brandon Keith Hardy, from the town of Bremen, Ind., was convicted of distributing and transporting child pornography, along with making notice of visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. The district attorney's office said Hardy used dark web chatrooms and encrypted messaging services to send material to send links on the dark web that had the child sex abuse material in question. However, Hardy was messaging with undercover law enforcement.
The office also said Hardy had a collection of child sex abuse material on his phone, had said he wanted to engage in sexual activity with a child, and claimed he had sexually abused other children. He remains in federal custody, and a sentencing date has not yet been set.
“Hardy’s conviction reflects the important work we do every day to keep children safe and prosecute those who seek to harm them. Child predators using anonymous online networks and encryption walls to exploit children and evade justice will not deter our mission,” said U.S. Attorney Dena J. King in a statement.
Ronnie Martinez, special agent in charge for Homeland Security Investigations, added “Protecting children from predators that seek to exploit them is one of the most important missions for HSI. We are fully committed to working with our law enforcement partners to identify, investigate, and prosecute these individuals for their heinous crimes.”
If sentenced to the maximum possible for both charges, Hardy could face up to 70 years in federal prison. The minimum sentences for both the transportation of child pornography and distribution of child pornography are five years, while the maximum is 20 years. The notice of child pornography charge will see a minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years. All three charges also include a $250,000 fine.
The attorney's office notes the case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, which is a nationwide effort launched in 2006 to combat the increase in child sex abuse and exploitation cases.
Note: Mugshots for federal inmates are not typically shared with the public.