Orlando, Florida - U.S. District Judge Charlene E. Honeywell sentenced Brian Mirth (29, Winter Park) yesterday to seven years in federal prison for distributing child pornography. As part of his sentence, Mirth was ordered to serve a 10-year term of supervision, following his release from prison, and required to register as a sex offender. Mirth pleaded guilty to distributing child pornography on Oct. 31, 2013.
According to court documents, on May 21, 2013, agents executed a search warrant at Mirth’s Winter Park residence where they recovered a computer and external hard drive containing images and videos of child pornography. Agents interviewed Mirth at his residence, and he admitted to collecting and trading child pornography using an anonymous e-mail address that agents had identified from another investigation. A forensic examination later revealed that Mirth’s computer and external hard drive contained hundreds of images of child pornography and videos.
“Child exploitation can extend across state lines and country borders because predators can access child pornography with a click of a button," said Susan McCormick, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations Tampa, which oversees the Orlando office that conducted this investigation. “HSI has offices across the United States and in 48 countries across the globe. This maximizes our reach, and helps us put child predators behind bars, regardless of where the investigation originates."
This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James D. Mandolfo.
It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
