CLEARWATER, Fla. – A Clearwater man, Brian Francis McArdle, 34, is facing federal charges related to child sexual abuse material (CSAM), according to an announcement today from U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe.
The unsealed indictment charges McArdle with both transporting and possessing CSAM. If convicted on all counts, he could face a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.
The indictment details allegations spanning from January 1, 2023, through April 2, 2024.
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During this period, McArdle is accused of transporting and shipping visual material depicting the sexual abuse of a minor. Furthermore, he is charged with knowingly possessing visual depictions of the sexual abuse of a child under the age of 12.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) spearheaded the investigation into this case. Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Derry will be prosecuting the case.
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