Bradenton man sentenced to 27 years for child pornography

TAMPA -- A federal judge sentence a Bradenton man to 27 years in federal prison on child pornography charges.

U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday sentenced Kevin Brien Darr, 50, for transporting and receiving child pornography. The court also ordered him to forfeit two cellphones he had used during the offenses. Darr pleaded guilty on Sept. 16.

According to court documents, an undercover law enforcement officer saw child pornography files that Darr had been posting to an Internet messaging application. On June 25, agents searched Darr's residence and seized his cellphones. Forensic analyses of the phones revealed more than 500 videos and 4,000 images of child pornography, including multiple files depicting prepubescent minors and sadomasochistic conduct. During the sentencing hearing, Darr admitted to previously abusing a minor female over a period of several years.

"This predator possessed thousands of images of the most egregious crimes against our children. Every time these horrific images or videos are viewed, it amplifies the pain inflicted on these young victims," said Susan L. McCormick, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigation Tampa. "This strong sentence emphasizes how committed we are to protecting our children and bringing these criminals to justice."

This case was investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Peresie and Rachel Jones.

The case is 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. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.

For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

This story was originally published December 21, 2015 at 5:39 PM with the headline "Bradenton man sentenced to 27 years for child pornography ."