As part of the Project Safe Childhood initiative, four men pleaded guilty or were sentenced this week in U.S. District Court, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores.

The initiative combats the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse and was launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.

“The Project Safe Childhood initiative unites law enforcement and U.S. Attorney’s Offices in common cause- to pursue justice for child victims,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “Whether coercion and enticement of a minor, production or possession of child pornography, or failure to register as a sex offender, we will work doggedly to hold accountable these predatory criminals.”

Brian Douglas Cook, 29, of Claremore, was sentenced Dec. 12, 2019, for possession of child pornography. U.S. District Judge Claire V. Eagan sentenced Cook to 24 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release. Judge Eagan further ordered Cook to pay $9,000 in restitution and $5,100 in special monetary assessments. Cook pleaded guilty on July 21, 2019. In his written plea agreement, he admitted that he possessed more than 600 images of child pornography at his residence in Claremore. He further stated that he accessed the images knowing the images involved minors, some under 12-years-old, engaging in sexually explicit conduct. FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shannon Cozzoni prosecuted the case.

Casey Adam Parker, 39, of Afton, pleaded guilty Dec. 11, 2019, to attempted receipt of child pornography.  On July 2, 2019, Parker used a social media app to engage with an individual he believed to be a minor. In actuality, he was speaking to a law enforcement officer. Parker knowingly attempted to persuade the minor to engage in sexual activity and to send him sexually explicit pictures. Parker was arrested July 2, as part of Operation Independence Day, a month-long operation led by the FBI to apprehend child predators and recover victims of child exploitation and sex trafficking.  U.S. District Judge Claire V. Eagan scheduled sentencing for March 12, 2020. The Tulsa Police Department and FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard M. Cella is prosecuting the case.

Kacey J. Hamilton, 28, of Tulsa, aka Brandon Bickford, pleaded guilty Dec. 11, 2019, to failure to register as a sex offender. Hamilton resided in Oklahoma since August 2018, and knowingly failed to register and update his registration as a sex offender.  U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell scheduled sentencing for March 10, 2020. The Tulsa Police Department and U.S. Marshals Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Victor A.S. Régal is prosecuting the case.

Bryan Michael Spidell, 30, of Phoenix, Arizona, pleaded guilty Dec. 9, 2019, to failure to register as a sex offender. Spidell entered and resided in Indian Country, specifically Cherokee Heights, and knowingly failed to register as a sex offender. U.S. District Judge Claire V. Eagan scheduled sentencing for March. 10, 2020. The Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, FBI and U.S. Marshals Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Proctor is prosecuting the case.

Led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.