A 34-year-old Quincy man was arrested Tuesday by a federal task for for allegedly sharing photographs and short videos depicting young girls exposing themselves or engaged in sexual activity.
Tyler K. Brandyberry, 100 Liberty St., is charged with a single count of distribution of child pornography, according to federal court records.
In a complaint filed Dec. 31, Westerville Police Department Officer Brett M. Peachey, who is part of the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, reports he followed up a Sept. 8 lead from an undercover FBI agent in Peoria, Ill., regarding Kik chat group messages with the defendant.
The chat group, #TweenAmateur, involves members who have sexual interest in boys and girls between the ages of 8 and 14, the federal complaint states.
The Illinois agent joined the group and posted messages regarding a fictitious 11-year-old niece. Brandyberry allegedly contacted the agent and sent photographs of a 14-year-old girl, including alleged photos of her bare breasts and buttocks.
He also sent a photograph of himself while at work utilizing Kik’s messenger app.
Peachey, posing as a mother of a 10-year-old girl, then took over the investigation and initiated contact with Brandyberry via Kik. Brandyberry allegedly told Peachey multiple times he wanted to engage in sexual activity with the fictional mother and daughter and asked for photographs showing the girl’s bare buttocks and breasts.
On Sept. 14, the defendant is accused of sending a one-minute video of an 11-year-old girl removing her top and pants to expose herself and a photograph of a girl, estimated to be 10 to 12, engaged in a sex act.
On Sept. 27, he continued to share videos, Peachey alleges in the complaint. One showed a four- or five-year-old girl dancing nude while another showed two boys and a girl, all between the ages of 10 to 13, engaged in sex.
Peachey used warrants to track down Brandyberry’s identity and online service providers. The task force officer also used open source social media to confirm Brandyberry’s identity.
None of the alleged victims in the videos or photographs appear to be among his children. However, one photo of a clothed girl appears to be one of his daughter which he claimed as a niece.
Brandyberry remains in federal custody and is set for detention hearing at 1 p.m. Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio.