BOSTON — A Sandisfield man was sentenced May 4 in federal court in Springfield for possession of child sexual abuse material and possession of an unregistered firearm following a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New England investigation.
Brian Hohman, 60, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to 10 years in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release. In January 2024, Hohman pleaded guilty to one charge of possession of child sexual abuse material and one charge of receipt and possession of an unregistered firearm.
During a search of Hohman’s residence in September 2023, HSI special agents discovered a sawed-off shotgun not registered to Hohman and a laptop containing over 300 visually unique images, including at least two videos depicting child sexual abuse. Hohman was subsequently arrested and detained on an unrelated matter. The investigation revealed that Hohman also possessed two cell phones and a SIM card containing child sexual abuse material.
Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy and HSI New England Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol announced the sentencing. The Massachusetts State Police and the Litchfield Judicial District State’s Attorney’s Office in Connecticut provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine G. Curley of the Springfield Branch Office prosecuted the case.
HSI is a global leader in the fight against child exploitation. Last year, HSI special agents dedicated 1.2 million case hours toward investigating child exploitation. This heinous crime harms the most vulnerable in our society: Our kids. As technology evolves and more people have access to the internet, children are at a greater risk than ever. HSI’s special agents and analysts around the world are dedicated to countering this threat.
Report suspected child exploitation to the HSI tip line at 877-4-HSI-TIP or through the CyberTipline on the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children's website.
About HSI
HSI is the principal investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security, responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel and finance move. HSI’s workforce consists of over 10,000 employees, assigned to 235 offices within the United States, and 93 overseas locations in 56 countries. HSI's international presence represents the Department of Homeland Security’s largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.