A 26-year-old Bronx man, Christian Brazoban, also known as “Bison,” was sentenced on Wednesday, Sept. 25, at the federal courthouse in Central Islip by United States District Judge Joan M. Azrack to 151 months in prison for distributing child pornography to three minor victims.  Brazoban pleaded guilty to the charge in January 2024.

Breon Peace, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, William S. Walker, special agent-in-charge with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in the New York Homeland Security Investigations unit, and Patrick J. Ryder, Commissioner of Nassau County Police Department (NCPD), announced the sentence.

Reacting to the sentencing, Peace said, “Today’s sentence brings justice to a minor victim whom the defendant terrorized with a barrage of sickening images of child pornography and death threats. The defendant’s actions with respect to this victim, and others with whom he also communicated, illustrate the menace of sexual predators preying on children on the Internet. I urge parents and caregivers to talk to their children about the dangers of communicating online with strangers and anyone who may exploit them.”

For his part, Walker said, “Christian Brazoban’s depraved crimes are among every parent’s worst nightmare. This case highlights HSI’s commitment to protect the most vulnerable members of our community, especially against a perpetrator like Brazoban who not only exploited young children, but threatened their lives through his sextortion scheme.” He added, “HSI New York stands united with our law enforcement partners in our mission to protect the public wherever and whenever possible.”

Meanwhile, NCPD Commissioner Ryder said, “Thanks to the hard work of detectives from the NCPD Special Victim’s Unit, in cooperation with HSI and all our federal partners, a dangerous threat to the children of Nassau County has been caught and brought to justice.” He added, “We are dedicated to keeping the internet safe from disturbed individuals like the defendant who prey on the vulnerable and we hope this case serves as a warning to those that target children that we will never lower our resolve. You will be found and punished.”

According to court filings, between approximately March 2021 and March 2023, Minor Victim 1, a minor who resided in Nassau County, engaged in online communications, including video chats, with Brazoban. On March 3, 2023, after Minor Victim 1 rebuked Brazoban for expressing sexual interest in a friend of Minor Victim 1’s who was in the seventh grade, Brazoban sent online messages to Minor Victim 1 and Minor Victims 2 and 3 (a relative and a friend of Minor Victim 1), which contained numerous images of child pornography.

When Minor Victim 1 told Brazoban to stop, he sent her additional online messages threatening to kill her and her family.  For example, Brazoban wrote: “lil girl shot dead on Long Island”; “I’m thinkin I tie you and just beat you to death with a mallet.”

On March 15, 2023, HSI agents and NCPD officers executed a search warrant at Brazoban’s residence in the Bronx and recovered a cellphone containing images of child pornography and threats that he had sent to Minor Victim 1. The search also revealed that the defendant had distributed child pornography to two other minor victims.

The government’s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division. Assistant United States  Attorney Bradley T. King is in charge of the prosecution.