Cleveland man sentenced to 26 years in prison for administering group that shared images of toddlers being tortured and sexually assaulted

A Cleveland man was sentenced to more than 26 years in prison for administering a group that shared images of toddlers being tortured and sexually assaulted, said Acting U.S. Attorney David A. Sierleja.

Brian C. Keeling, 34, was sentenced to 320 months in prison by U.S. District Judge James Gwin. He pled guilty earlier this year to three counts -- advertising, possession of child pornography and receipt and distribution of depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

Keeling administered a group on Kik that shared images of child exploitation. The group was named “Toddlers” and had 50 members. Keeling posted messages to the group such as: “Wish we could find a babies group” and “who has some hardcore toddlers,” according to court documents.

Keeling possessed more than 30 movie files and hundreds of images of child pornography and sexual abuse, including a toddler bound by her ankles, which are secured to a rod, who is can be heard screaming while she it tortured and sexually abused, according to court documents.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael A. Sullivan following an investigation by the Cleveland office of the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations.