Defendant allegedly used Snapchat to coerce minors into sending sexually explicit images and videos
Tacoma – A 32-year-old Tacoma man was arrested and charged with production of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Bryant Keith McCullough was arrested today, April 10, 2023, after an investigation conducted by the Tacoma Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. McCullough is accused of enticing and coercing minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography. McCullough made his initial appearance today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma.
According to the criminal complaint filed in the case, the Tacoma Police Department received information from a concerned parent about an image that was shared in a group chat of Pierce County motocross parents regarding an explicit Snapchat message apparently sent by McCullough to a minor motocross racer whom he was sponsoring.
Law enforcement executed a search warrant at McCullough’s Tacoma residence last month and seized several devices, including a GoPro camera. Police found numerous sexually explicit images and videos of minors on the seized GoPro. Several of the GoPro videos found by law enforcement show McCullough filming a cellphone on which he is viewing sexually explicit images and videos of young males sent to him through Snapchat.
At least one victim confirmed to law enforcement that they had sent McCullough sexually explicit images and videos, at the motocross coach’s request. The victim acknowledged sending the images with the promise that they would receive money, clothing, alcohol, marijuana, and/or preferential treatment regarding motocross coaching.
McCullough came into federal custody today and will remain detained at the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac pending further hearings.
Production of child pornography is punishable by a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and a maximum of 30 years in prison.
The charges contained in the complaint are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by the Tacoma Police Department and the FBI. If you have any information regarding this case, you can submit a tip to tips.fbi.gov.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matt Hampton.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc
