Brian O’Brien, a 42-year-old resident of East Aurora, New York, pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography in federal court. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo. O’Brien entered his plea before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and up to 20 years, as well as a possible $250,000 fine. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan K. Glaberson, O’Brien used social media applications Snapchat and WhatsApp between June 2022 and July 19, 2023, to receive, view, and upload images involving minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct on his cell phone. Between June 2022 and March 2023, he communicated with an individual in Phoenix, Arizona through WhatsApp where they discussed the sexual abuse of children and exchanged files containing child pornography.
O’Brien also exchanged text messages from December 2022 to May 2023 with someone known as “J.J.” In these conversations, he asked J.J. to locate a minor boy for him to abuse sexually. J.J. then provided a phone number for someone claiming to be a 15-year-old boy with whom O’Brien negotiated sexual acts. O’Brien agreed via message to pay both the purported minor and J.J., also offering drugs.
In July 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at O’Brien’s East Aurora home and seized multiple electronic devices including two cell phones, a hard drive, and a laptop computer. A forensic search uncovered more than 2,000 images and videos depicting child pornography.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation under Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Mark Grimm’s direction along with the New York State Police led by Major Amie Feroleto.
Sentencing is scheduled for December 1, 2025 before Judge Vilardo.
