Sandisfield Man Indicted for Sexual Exploitation of Children

 BOSTON – A Sandisfield man was indicted today on multiple counts of child sexual exploitation offenses.

Brian Hohman, 57, was charged with four counts of sexual exploitation of children and one count of commission of a felony offense involving a minor when required to register as a sex offender. Hohman is currently being held in Connecticut on unrelated state charges and will make an initial appearance in federal court in Springfield at a later date.

According to the indictment, on various dates between October 2018 and July 2020, Hohman employed, used, persuaded, induced, enticed and coerced minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions of that conduct. The indictment further alleges that during this time period, Hohman committed a felony offense involving a minor while he was a registered sex offender. 

The charges of sexual exploitation of children and attempted sexual exploitation of a child provide for a sentence of at least 25 years and up to 50 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of commission of a felony offense involving a minor when required to register as a sex offender provides for a mandatory sentence of 10 years in prison in addition to any sentence imposed for the charges of sexual exploitation of children. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the State’s Attorney’s Office for the State of Connecticut, Litchfield Judicial District. Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine G. Curley of Mendell’s Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case. 

Members of the public who have questions, concerns or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274.

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.