Brian Walker, a 52-year-old from Bradenton, Florida, has been sentenced to 12 years and 7 months in federal prison. This sentence, delivered by U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven, also includes 20 years of supervised release following his prison term. Walker was convicted of attempting to coerce and entice a minor into sexual activity and possessing child sexual abuse material, to which he pled guilty on March 25, 2025.
Court documents reveal that Walker contacted a 12-year-old girl in his community through a social media application. Unbeknownst to him, the FBI had assumed control of the minor’s social media account and engaged him in conversations while posing as the young girl. During these interactions, Walker shared explicit intentions and expressed his desire for a personal meeting. On June 24, 2024, he traveled to the community pool intending to meet the minor, where he was subsequently arrested. Law enforcement officials discovered hundreds of explicit images and videos of minors, some under 12, on his cellphone.
This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Derry. It was part of the Project Safe Childhood initiative, a nationwide program launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. This initiative coordinates federal, state, and local efforts to identify, apprehend, and prosecute offenders while also aiming to rescue victims.
