Shelton Man Pleads Guilty to Child Exploitation Offense

David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that BURNEST GEYER, JR., 32, of Shelton, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to a child exploitation offense.

According to court documents and statements made in court, an investigation revealed that Geyer had told an individual that he possessed child pornography videos, and that he had communicated with a second individual through Telegram, an encrypted phone messaging application, about his child pornography collection.  During a Telegram communication in July 2024, Geyer shared his laptop screen and showed pictures and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children.

Geyer was arrested on October 8, 2024.  On that date, investigators conducted a court-authorized search of his residence and seized his iPhone and other items.  Analysis of the Telegram app on the iPhone revealed more than 3,000 images and videos depicting child pornography, including the sexual abuse of infants and toddlers.

The investigation further revealed that Geyer engaged in dozens of conversations with others on Telegram and WhatsApp regarding his interest in the sexual abuse of minors, and offered to pay adult content creators to sexually exploit their children over video calls with him.

Geyer pleaded guilty to receipt and distribution of child pornography, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.  A sentencing date is not scheduled.

Geyer, who is currently released on a $100,000 bond, has a detention hearing scheduled for tomorrow in Bridgeport.

This matter is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with the assistance of the Bridgeport Police Department and the Shelton Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Gordon.

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.