SALT LAKE CITY — A Layton man has accepted a plea agreement to a federal charge of distribution of child pornography. Brandon Florence, 32, entered a guilty plea to the charge Feb. 16 in U.S. District Court.
Florence admitted possessing more than 600 images of child pornography, including pictures of prepubescent children being sexually assaulted by adults.
He admitted that he sent images of child pornography across state lines using a peer-to-peer file-sharing program.
Florence faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison. A sentencing hearing is set for June 19 before U.S. District Judge Tena Campbell.
Florence and five other Utah men were arrested in a Project Safe Childhood sting.
Project Safe Childhood targets the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children through a network of federal, state and local law enforcement and prosecution agencies, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Salt Lake City.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol Dain, who coordinates Project Safe Childhood prosecutions, said four new indictments have been filed in the first two months of 2012. Several other cases are under investigation.
The other five defendants in the case accepted plea deals.
• Christopher James Pratt, 37, of Mapleton, was sentenced Feb. 21 to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty in August to distribution of child pornography.
• Antonio Cardenas, 33, of Murray, entered a guilty plea Feb. 14 to one count of aggravated sexual abuse of a child. He faces up to life in prison with a 30-year mandatory minimum sentence when sentenced June 13.
• Robert Leon McBride, 36, of Orem, entered a guilty plea Feb. 14 to possession of child pornography. McBride’s plea agreement includes a recommendation for a 10-year sentence. A sentencing hearing is set for June 20.
• Jeffrey David Pirente, 44, of Saratoga Springs, entered a guilty plea Feb. 15 to distribution of child pornography. He faces a five-year mandatory minimum sentence when sentenced June 13.
• James Timothy Dickinson, 32, of West Jordan, entered a guilty plea Monday to coercion and enticement for illegal sexual activity. He faces a mandatory minimum 10 years in federal prison when sentenced June 27.
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