Kevin P. Davidson, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama
A Phenix City man has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for producing and distributing child sexual abuse material. Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson announced the sentencing of Corey Joseph Brand, aged 46, on May 12, 2025. The federal judge ordered Brand to serve 360 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. He is also required to register as a sex offender. In the federal system, there is no parole.
Brand's conviction follows an investigation that began in September 2023 when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a tip about the online upload of child sexual abuse materials through a social media website. The account user claimed to be an active-duty soldier in Georgia. This information was referred to the Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID), which identified Brand as the source of these uploads. It was discovered that Brand had used another person's identity to create the account and had previously served in the Army before being discharged.
A search warrant executed at Brand's residence in Phenix City led agents to examine multiple electronic devices. Forensic analysis uncovered numerous images of child sexual abuse materials stored on these devices and evidence of their distribution. Further investigation revealed that Brand had used a minor victim to produce such material.
In 2024, a federal grand jury in Montgomery charged Brand with producing and distributing child sexual abuse material, charges to which he pleaded guilty on February 7, 2025.
The case was investigated by the Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), with assistance from various local law enforcement agencies including those from Muscogee County, Columbus, Phenix City, Auburn, and NCMEC. Assistant United States Attorney Tara S. Ratz prosecuted the case.
This prosecution 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 by coordinating resources across federal, state, and local levels.
