FORMER CO-FOUNDER OF FITNESS AND EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN SENTENCED ON CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGES
BOSTON, Mass. - An Acton man was sentenced today in federal court on child pornography charges.
BRAD WARNER, 33, was sentenced before U.S. District Judge Patti B. Saris to 151 months in prison to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release for receipt and possession of child pornography. WARNER was a co-founder of HammelFit, a fitness and education program designed for children under the age of seven.
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz said, “Today, justice has been served, and Mr. Warner has been held accountable for his actions. Those who exploit children, as Mr. Warner has been convicted of doing, should heed this warning. We will continue to investigate and prosecute aggressively crimes perpetrated against children.”
“This case is yet another example of the vulnerability of our children and the traumatic emotional scars that mark them and their families for life,” said Bruce M. Foucart, Special Agent in Charge of ICE HSI in Boston. “It is also a clear example of the price these criminals face once they are convicted.”
Had the case proceeded to trial the Government’s evidence would have proven that Robert John Mueller of Sterling Heights, Mich., received e-mails from WARNER, containing conversations about their shared sexual interests in young girls and their sexual desires for young girls from the ages of approximately three to 10 years old. WARNER indicated to Mueller that he had a particular sexual interest in an approximately seven year old girl.
Mueller also communicated through over 100 e-mails with John J. Belloli, Jr. of Dearborn Heights, Mich. during which time they had multiple conversations describing sexual attraction to minor females including minors as young as three years old. On March 14, 2009, Belloli e-mailed WARNER a video file that depicted a prepubescent female and an adult male engaged in sexual acts. On two other occasions, WARNER sent Belloli multiple cell phone videos of prepubescent females, one of which depicted a prepubescent female getting changed.
U.S. Attorney Ortiz and Special Agent in Charge Bruce M. Foucart made the announcement today. Also assisting in the investigation were local police departments and the Massachusetts State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nadine Pellegrini, Chief of Ortiz’s Major Crimes Unit and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Yoon, of the Major Crimes Unit.
This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/. Any questions or concerns regarding PSC cases, please contact us at 617-748-3274.
