Rockledge Man Convicted of Distribution and Possession of Child Pornography

ORLANDO—Today, a federal jury found Brandon Kyle Thomas (25, Rockledge) guilty of distribution and possession of child pornography. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to a maximum term of 20 years in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 25, 2012. Thomas was indicted on April 4, 2012.

According to evidence presented at trial, Thomas used a peer-to-peer program to download and distribute child pornography. On December 1, 2010, an FBI Task Force agent in Virginia downloaded several files of child pornography from an Internet Protocol address that was traced to a residence in Rockledge, Florida. On April 26, 2011, FBI agents went to the residence and interviewed Thomas. Thomas admitted that he had used a peer-to-peer program to download and distribute child pornography and consented to a search of his computer and CDs. A forensic examination of the items revealed that Thomas’ computer and one of the CDs contained child pornography.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Roger B. Handberg and Shawn P. Napier.

It is another 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. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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.”