Mount Airy Man Facing Federal Indictment for Sexually Exploiting Minors to Produce Child Sexual Abuse Material

Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury returned an indictment today, charging Mark Travis Brigham, 36, of Mount Airy, Maryland, with seven counts of sexual exploitation of a child and one count of possession of child sexual abuse material.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Acting Special Agent in Charge Evan Campanella, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Maryland; Sheriff Charles A. Jenkins, Frederick County Sheriff’s Office; and J. Charles Smith III, State’s Attorney for Frederick County.

According to the indictment, between September 2023 and December 2024, Brigham persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced two minor females to engage in sexually explicit conduct. Brigham exploited the minors for the purpose of producing visual depictions of the sexually explicit conduct. Further, the indictment alleges that Brigham possessed child sexual abuse material on four digital devices.

If convicted, Brigham faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison for each of the seven counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. Additionally, Brigham faces a maximum of 10 years in federal prison for one count of possessing child sexual abuse material.

Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt.  Individuals charged by indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.

This 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 United States Attorney’s 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, visit justice.gov/psc.  For more information about Internet safety education, visit justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended HSI, Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, and State’s Attorney’s Office for Frederick County, for their work in the investigation.  Ms. Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexandria A. Bell and Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Budlow who are prosecuting the federal case.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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