A former College Station resident, Daniel Byrd, 31, has been sentenced to federal prison for distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online, as announced by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Byrd, who pleaded guilty on November 25, 2024, received a 60-month prison sentence from U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Hoyt.
Judge Hoyt stated that Byrd might never control his addictive conduct, but emphasized that responsibility lies with Byrd himself. Post-release, Byrd is to serve 10 years of supervised release with several restrictions aimed at limiting his access to children and the internet. Byrd is also required to register as a sex offender.
The investigation began when authorities discovered Byrd sharing CSAM images on various online platforms. After obtaining a search warrant, law enforcement seized his electronic devices. The images in question included illegal content involving prepubescent and adult males.
Byrd admitted to using online platforms, such as Telegram and Kik, to access and download CSAM, and created a Mega account to store and distribute the material. At the time of his arrest, Byrd was working as a teacher in the Navasota area.
Initially released on bond, Byrd was taken into custody following his sentencing and will remain there pending his transfer to a federal prison. The investigation was led by the FBI, with assistance from the College Station Police Department and the Brazos County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly Leo and Jay Hileman prosecuted the case under Project Safe Childhood (PSC), an initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative works with various agencies to prosecute offenders and rescue victims. More information about PSC and internet safety can be found on the DOJ’s website.