HILL AIR FORCE BASE, utah -- A former Air Force master sergeant will spend half-a-decade behind bars after pleading guilty to multiple charges of child pornography following a military court-martial March 7, 2022.
In Aug. 2020, the then-senior noncommissioned officer was arrested on eight counts of sexual exploitation of minors following information by the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force and the Syracuse, Utah, Police Department.
The SPD led the investigation, but shortly after, the Office of Special Investigations opened its investigation to supplement the outside agencies' efforts, the Office of Special Investigations later became the lead investigative agency.
Upon reviewing the SPD reports, OSI Special Agents from Detachment 113 at Hill AFB learned the individual posted inappropriate media of underage children on social media. In addition, the culprit posted comments to other users referring to additional content that had not been posted previously.
The FBI executed the search warrant of his residence and later uncovered 142 videos of suspected sexual exploitation of children on an encrypted USB drive.
From the USB contents, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children identified seven of the videos in the individual’s possession were previously identified as child pornography files, with at least two known child victims.
A pediatrician also confirmed that 61 of the 100 videos on the encrypted USB contained footage of children.
“We are proud to work alongside our law enforcement partners to protect our most vulnerable,” said Maj. Bradley Byington, Detachment 113 commander. “Any crime involving the exploitation of children is tragic. The work done by the team ensured justice in this case.”
Besides spending five years behind bars, the subject will lose all pay, be reduced to the rank of airman basic and be dishonorably discharged.
Editor’s Note: This article is the fourth installment of the Public Affairs “Justice for All” series; a collection of recent court martial cases highlighting the tireless efforts of OSI Special Agents, as they fulfill their mission to defend the nation, protect the integrity of the Department of the Air Force, find the truth and serve justice for all.