San Diego Man Arrested on Sexual Exploitation Charges

FBI Special Agent in Charge Keith Slotter announces the arrest of Brandon W. Schroth, 38, on sexual exploitation charges. Schroth was arrested without incident pursuant to a federal complaint in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. § 2251(a), (c), (e)-sexual exploitation of a child at approximately 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 1, 2012 by law enforcement agents of the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.

According to the complaint, two federal search warrants were executed in Denver, Colorado in July and August of 2011. Several items of evidence, including computers and digital media, were seized and forensically analyzed pursuant to the search warrants. From this analysis, Schroth was identified in a number of still images and videos. Some of these images depicted Schroth posing with three minor females on a mattress. Other analysis showed Schroth as having participated in the production of a video wherein Schroth is depicted naked in a bathtub with two minor females.

This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California. Schroth had his initial appearance this morning in federal court. His detention hearing is scheduled for March 8, 2012 at 1:30 p.m.

An arrest itself is not evidence that the defendant committed the crimes charged. The defendant is presumed innocent until the government meets its burden in court of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt