A federal grand jury has indicted Brayden Storey, a 22-year-old resident of West Fork, Arkansas, on charges related to the production and attempted production of child pornography as well as the enticement of a minor. U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced that Storey faces two counts of production and attempted production of child pornography, each carrying a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 30 years. He is also charged with one count of enticement of a minor, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years and could result in up to life imprisonment.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Maeve E. Huggins said that according to the indictment and an earlier complaint, the West Seneca Police Department received a report from a minor victim in June 2024 regarding an incident involving someone she met online in September 2022. At that time, the girl was 13 years old and Storey was 19. Their interactions took place through social media and text messages. Huggins stated: "At times, Storey made sexual comments, with the sexual communications significantly increasing over time. Between October 2023 and April 2024, Storey coerced the minor victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct and created visual depictions of the conduct."
The investigation was led by the West Seneca Police Department under Chief Brian Cosgrove and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) overseen by Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera. Additional support came from the FBI’s Little Rock Office, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Benton County Sheriff’s Office, Arkansas State Police, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Devon Still from the Western District of Arkansas.
U.S. Attorney DiGiacomo reminded the public: "The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty."
