Yakima Man Who Used Snapchat and Instagram to Solicit Minors Sentenced to 22 Years in Federal Prison

Yakima, Washington – Acting United States Attorney Richard R. Barker announced that Bryan Christopher Stevenson, 43, of Yakima, Washington, was sentenced after pleading guilty to soliciting minors to send him sexually explicit content. United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke sentenced Stevenson to 22 years in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release.

According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, between October 2020 and August 2022, Stevenson used social media to communicate with at least eight minors, living in three different states, who law enforcement could identify. Stevenson offered to send money to some minors in exchange for pictures and videos of the minors performing sexual acts. In several instances, Stevenson used different personas on Snapchat and Instagram, including by pretending to be a minor female and teenage boy, to communicate with his victims and to encourage them to send him explicit pictures and videos.

In one case, Stevenson contacted a minor, and claimed he had nude videos of the minor. Stevenson threatened to send the videos to the minor’s parents and members of their church unless they provided him with additional videos.

Investigators reviewing Stevenson’s iPad found 172 images and 45 videos of minors, including one victim who was between 4 and 6 years old, engaging in sexually explicit conduct and being sexually abused.

“Mr. Stevenson’s conduct was predatory, calculated, and devastating in its impact on vulnerable children,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Rich Barker. “He used the anonymity of social media to deceive, manipulate, and harm young victims across multiple states. His actions underscore the dangers children face online and the lasting trauma these crimes inflict. To those who use technology to target and exploit children, you will face serious consequences. I strongly urge parents, guardians, and community members to remain vigilant in monitoring their children’s social media activities and to engage in open conversations about online safety.”

Acting U.S. Attorney Barker continued, “While Social media companies are posting record profits; far too many families are coping with the devastating impact of online exploitation.  Social media companies like Snapchat and Instagram have the responsibility to do more to ensure their products do not endanger the most vulnerable members of our communities.”

“Today’s sentencing is a powerful reminder that those who exploit and terrorize children through threats and manipulation will be held fully accountable,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Seattle Acting Special Agent in Charge Matthew Murphy. “This subject’s deliberate actions inflicted lasting trauma on vulnerable victims. Today’s outcome reflects HSI’s relentless commitment to protecting children and ensuring that predators are identified, apprehended, and prosecuted – no matter where they operate or how they hide.”

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Yakima Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael D. Murphy.

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