New Britain Resident Admits Possessing Child Pornography, Violating Supervised Release

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Jason J. Molina, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Boston, today announced that BRIAN HERNDON, 45, of New Britain, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty yesterday in New Haven federal court to one count of possession of child pornography.  Herndon also admitted that he violated the conditions of his supervised release from a prior federal conviction.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 12, 2009, Herndon was sentenced in New Haven federal court to 72 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for possessing child pornography.  He was released from federal prison in May 2014.  On September 1, 2015, U.S. Probation officers searched Herndon’s residence and seized a laptop.  Subsequent forensic examination of the laptop revealed approximately 2,269 images and 74 videos of child pornography.

Herndon is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford on February 24, 2020, at which time Herndon faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years for possessing child pornography, and up to two years in prison for violating the conditions of he supervised release.

Herndon is released on bond and remains under court supervision pending sentencing.

This investigation is being conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter S. Jongbloed.

This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.