Registered Sex Offender From Sandisfield Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child Pornography and Unregistered Firearm

BOSTON – A Sandisfield man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Springfield to possession of child pornography and possession of an unregistered firearm.

Brian Hohman, 60, pleaded guilty to one charge of possession of child pornography and one charge of receipt and possession of an unregistered firearm. U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for May 2, 2024. Hohman remains in federal custody. 

During a search of Hohman’s residence in September 2023, a sawed-off shotgun not registered to Hohman and a laptop containing child pornography were found. Hohman was subsequently arrested and detained on an unrelated matter. A subsequent investigation revealed that Hohman also possessed two cell phones and a SIM card containing child pornography.

Due to Hohman’s prior conviction, the charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of receipt and possession of an unregistered firearm provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Litchfield Judicial District State’s Attorney’s Office in Connecticut. Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine G. Curley of the Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.  

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.