Former Law Enforcement Officer Sentenced To 25 Years For Child Sexual Enticement

Orlando, Florida – Chief U.S. District Judge Anne C. Conway today sentenced Brian John McRee, Sr. (51, Jacksonville) to 25 years in federal prison for attempting to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity and for possessing child pornography. The Court also ordered him to serve a lifetime of supervision following his release from prison and to forfeit the electronic devices that he had used to commit the crimes. McRee pleaded guilty on August 28, 2014.

According to court documents, McRee attempted to entice a 14-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity. Unbeknownst to him, the “girl” was a law enforcement officer acting in an undercover capacity. McRee initially met the “girl” on a website known to be frequented by individuals who discuss incest and pedophilia. During the next six weeks, McRee communicated with the “girl” over the Internet, engaging her in sexual conversation and grooming her for sex. On May 17, 2014, he travelled to a prearranged location to meet the “girl” for sex and was subsequently arrested. He had in his possession numerous sexual aids, including condoms, alcohol for the child, erectile dysfunction medicine, and a digital camera. He also brought with him a laptop and three thumb drives containing a total of 300 images and 5 videos depicting the sexual abuse and exploitation of young girls. McRee admitted that he had travelled to have sex with the child and that he had downloaded child pornography from the Internet. He also admitted that he had recently been chatting about sex online with a 10-year-old.

McRee previously worked as a law enforcement officer for several sheriff’s offices from 1982 through 1999.

“Our children are our nation’s most important resource,” said Susan L. McCormick, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations, Tampa. “And HSI remains committed to protecting our children against predators.”

This case was investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Karen L. Gable.

This case was brought as 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 United States Attorneys' 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, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.