Former Ohio Music Instructor Charged Federally with Child Pornography Offenses

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A former school music instructor was charged late Thursday by criminal complaint with production of child pornography.

Brian Sze, 34, of Seattle, was arrested September 29 without incident at his residence. He is also facing related state charges in Ohio.

Carter M. Stewart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Marlon V. Miller, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Columbus Police Chief Kim Jacobs and members of the Franklin County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force announced the charges.

According to court documents, the investigation began in July 2015 after a tip was called into ICAC which indicated Sze had illicit sexual contact with a minor and subsequently recorded the encounter.

Production of child pornography is a crime punishable by a range of 15 to 30 years in prison.

The Franklin County ICAC Task Force is a multi-agency effort dedicated to the fight against computer facilitated crimes against children. The following agencies are members:

This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorney's Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children as well as to identify and rescue victims.

U.S. Attorney Stewart commended the members of the ICAC Task Force for the cooperative investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Hill who is representing the United States in this case.

A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.