Brandon Michael Halsey, a 20-year-old from Denison, Iowa, has been sentenced to federal prison following his guilty plea on October 8, 2024. Halsey admitted to possessing child pornography.
Halsey's plea agreement revealed that he knowingly received, distributed, and possessed visual depictions of child pornography between February 5, 2022, and February 1, 2023. The investigation began after a Kik user was reported for uploading two videos depicting child pornography on May 6, 2022. This activity was reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
During a search at Halsey's home, he confessed to possessing around 100 files of such material. He also acknowledged sending images and videos to other Kik users. While being taken into custody, Halsey attempted to discard two iPhones in the snow but they were seized by law enforcement. A forensic review of three phones revealed possession of 263 images and 104 videos involving child pornography.
United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand sentenced Halsey in Sioux City to a prison term of 72 months along with $18,600 in restitution and assessments. Post-release supervision will last five years with no parole available under the federal system.
Halsey is currently held in the United States Marshal's custody awaiting transport to a federal facility.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse through coordinated efforts across various levels of government resources.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood or internet safety education visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.