U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang has sentenced Brian Patrick Werth, a 40-year-old resident of Beltsville, Maryland, to 37 years in federal prison for producing child sexual abuse material. Following his prison term, Werth will be subject to 25 years of supervised release.
The sentence was announced by Erek L. Barron, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, alongside Special Agent in Charge Michael S. McCarthy from Homeland Security Investigations.
Werth's conviction includes charges of coercing and enticing a minor into sexually explicit conduct while being a registered sex offender. Upon his release, he must register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act and is prohibited from contacting children under 18 without prior permission. Additionally, he will be subjected to computer monitoring.
The jury found that between January and June 2021, Werth used internet applications WhatsApp and Kik to communicate with minor females aged 11 and 15. He persuaded them to produce sexually explicit videos of themselves during these interactions while already listed on the Maryland Sex Offender Registry due to a previous conviction.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse. The project coordinates resources at federal, state, and local levels to prosecute offenders and rescue victims.
U.S. Attorney Barron acknowledged the efforts of Homeland Security Investigations and the Maryland State Police Department in this case's investigation and prosecution. Assistant U.S. Attorney LaShanta Harris led the prosecution.
Further information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.justice.gov/psc.
