A Florida man and previously convicted predator was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison for distribution and possession of images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children following a Southwest Florida Inter-Agency Child Exploitation and Persons Trafficking Task Force, or SWFL INTERCEPT Task Force, investigation.
Richard Edward Brillhart, 44, of Fort Myers, was also ordered to serve a lifetime of supervised release and register as a sex offender.
A federal jury found Brillhart guilty February 7.
According to court documents, between April and August 2021, several social media applications provided cyber tips to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reporting that Brillhart was involved in the possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material on various social media platforms.
On September 8, 2021, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Ft. Myers executed a search warrant at Brillhart’s residence and seized his cellphone.
A subsequent forensic examination of Brillhart’s cellphone revealed images and videos of children being sexually abused.
Further, Brillhart had a prior conviction for possession of materials involving the sexual exploitation of minors from 2004.
