MINNEAPOLIS—A federal indictment unsealed late Friday charges a 40-year-old Blooming Prairie man with producing, distributing, and possessing child pornography. The indictment, which was filed on March 19, 2013, charges Brian Luke Broulik with one count of production of child pornography, one count of distribution of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography. The indictment was unsealed following Broulik’s initial appearance in federal court.
The indictment alleges that on May 12, 2012, Broulik induced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of that conduct on his cell phone. It also alleges that on March 9, 2012, Broulik knowingly distributed similar depictions via a computer, and that on May 24, 2012, Broulik possessed similar depictions and videos.
If convicted, Broulik faces a potential maximum penalty of life in federal prison for production of child pornography, 40 years for distribution, and 20 years for possession. All sentences would be determined by a federal district court judge.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Olmstead County Sheriff’s Office and the Minnesota Child Exploitation Task Force, which is sponsored by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin S. Ueland.
Production, distribution, and possession of child pornography is against the law. In addition to prosecuting these cases, the Justice Department is funding a study focused on the correlation between involvement in child pornography and hands-on sexual abuse of children. A 2008 study (The Butner Study) published in the Journal of Family Violence found that up to 80 percent of federal inmates incarcerated for possession, receipt, or distribution of child pornography also admitted to hands-on sexual abuse of children, ranging from touching to rape.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney offices and the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identify and rescue victims. For more information about PSC, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/resources.html and click on the tab “Resources.”
An indictment is a determination by a grand jury that there is probable cause to believe that offenses have been committed by a defendant. A defendant, of course, is presumed innocent until he or she pleads guilty or is proven guilty at trial.
