FORT MYERS, Fla. — 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 Feb. 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 Sept. 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.
“The sentencing of Richard Brillhart to four decades sends a clear message that our community will not tolerate the exploitation of children, in any form,” said HSI Tampa Assistant Special Agent in Charge Micah C. McCombs. “The Southwest Florida INTERCEPT Task Force, South Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Fort Myers Police Department, Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Louisiana Bureau of Investigations work tirelessly to make impacts every day to hold those who engage in the possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material accountable.”
This case was investigated by HSI and the SWFL INTERCEPT Task Force, which comprises detectives and investigative specialists who are part of the South Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and are cross designated task force officers with HSI. The Fort Myers Police Department, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Louisiana Bureau of Investigations assisted with this investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Yolande G. Viacava.
The SWFL INTERCEPT Task Force is a unique partnership that takes a collaborative and coordinated approach to work together at all three levels of government, alongside private sector partners, to rescue children from sexual exploitation. The SWFL INTERCEPT is a unique public–private partnership where nonprofit organizations provide financial, technical and other resources to regional law enforcement partners dedicated to the fight against human trafficking and child exploitation. Support from Operation Light Shine allows law enforcement agencies to better serve southwest Florida communities and the many victims of human trafficking and child exploitation. The collaborative approach of bringing together the experience and expertise of local, state and federal law enforcement professionals greatly enhances the ability to combat the many difficulties and challenges presented by the complexities of child exploitation and human trafficking investigations.
Members of the Southwest Florida INTERCEPT Task Force consist of members with HSI Ft. Myers, the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office, the Naples Police Department, the Marco Island Police Department, the Cape Coral Police Department, the Fort Myers Police Department, the Lee County Port Authority Police, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Florida’s 20th Judicial Circuit Attorney Amira Fox, the U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations Miami, and the U.S. Department of Justice’s South Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
For more information about internet safety education, please visit Department of Homeland Security’s Know2Protect.
To report any information about human trafficking, child sexual abuse, or the trafficking in child sexual abuse material contact the HSI Tip Line at 877-4-HSI-TIP or report it through the CyberTipline on the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s website.