Tampa, Florida – Marchaun Browning, 24, of Gibsonton, has pleaded guilty to “distributing and possessing images depicting the sexual abuse of children.” He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years, and up to 70 years, in federal prison.
According to court documents, in June 2017, Browning created several Twitter accounts. On several different occasions, he posted child sex abuse images and tagged other Twitter accounts associated with public officials, media outlets, and public figures. Browning’s tweets also contained messages directed at the intended and tagged recipients.
One of the recipients was an unidentified news anchor for Bay News 9 in Florida.
Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Browning’s home in Gibsonton and seized electronic devices that contained more than 160 images and one video depicting the sexual abuse of children, including some as young as toddlers.
Browning used these Twitter handles:
- @Mecca15675165
- @Tatiana81529156
- @Cindy85156879
- @Micah43833128
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Murray.
“We suspect that there may be other victims related to Marchaun Browning. We are asking that anyone who received pornographic images of children from the Twitter accounts used by Browning to contact investigators,” said Sheriff Grady Judd art the time of the arrest. “We know there is an association between those who possess and distribute child pornography with those who sexually molest children. We want to know if there are other victims out there.”
