Gavel 2

A New York man was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison Tuesday for traveling to Southern Oregon to sexually abuse a child and capturing the abuse on video.

Brent Johnson Jr., 26, was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison and a life term of supervised release, the U.S. Attorney’s Office-Medford District said in a news release Thursday.

According to court documents, in August 2021, Johnson contacted a child through an online video game and, after exchanging phone numbers with the child, continued communicating with them via text messages and phone calls, the release said.

“Undeterred by the child’s age, in late 2021, Johnson traveled to Southern Oregon where he sexually abused the child and captured the abuse on video,” the release said. “In February 2022, the child’s mother contacted law enforcement after receiving text messages and images from Johnson.”

A federal grand jury in Medford returned a three-count indictment May 5, 2022, charging Johnson with sexually exploiting a child, distributing child pornography, and traveling with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct.

On June 26, 2024, Johnson pleaded guilty to sexually exploiting a child and distributing child pornography.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents in Long Island, New York, and Medford, and the Rogue River Police Department. It was prosecuted by Judith R. Harper, assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon, according to the release.

Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children is encouraged to contact HSI at 866-347-2423 or submit a tip online at report.cybertip.org.

Child pornography is defined in federal law as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor, the release said.

“It is important to remember child sexual abuse material depicts actual crimes being committed against children. Not only do these images and videos document the victims’ exploitation and abuse, but when shared across the internet, re-victimize and re-traumatize the child victims each time their abuse is viewed,” officials said.

To learn more, visit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at missingkids.org.

This case was 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. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit justice.gov/psc.