Scranton Reporter

On September 16, 2024, United States District Court Judge Karoline Mehalchick sentenced Brian Wilder, age 54, of Jefferson City, Missouri, to 240 months imprisonment followed by 10 years supervised release on the charge of conspiracy to commit sexual abuse of children.

According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, between December 3 and December 7, 2022, Wilder participated in an online chat using the Kik application with Mason Morey, age 27, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania. Wilder purported to be a young woman during these online conversations and directed Morey to sexually abuse two minor children, ages three and five. At Wilder’s request and direction, Morey transmitted numerous videos and images of himself sexually abusing the children to Wilder.

On November 20, 2023, Morey was sentenced to 300 months imprisonment by U.S. District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion for attempted online enticement and sexual exploitation of children.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenny P. Roberts prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, 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 the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood 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 Project Safe Childhood please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.

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