Tampa, Florida – Marchaun Browning (24, Gibsonton) was sentenced to 5 years in federal prison last week, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, for distributing and possessing child pornography.
Browning pleaded guilty on April 21, 2021.
According to court documents, in June 2017, Browning created several Twitter accounts. On several different occasions, he posted or “tweeted” child sex abuse images and tagged other Twitter accounts associated with elected officials, media outlets, and public figures — including a Tampa Bay-area television news anchor.
rowning’s tweets also contained messages directed at the intended and tagged recipients.
On June 18, 2017, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Browning’s residence. The officers discovered more than 160 images and one video depicting the sexual abuse of children, including some as young as toddlers, located on Browning’s devices seized from his residence.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Murray.
