Clearwater Man Sentenced to Ten Years for Transportation of Child Sexual Abuse Material

Tampa, Florida - Brian Francis McArdle (34, Clearwater) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington to 10 years in federal prison for transportation and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

McArdle pleaded guilty on March 9, 2026.

According to court documents, from January 1, 2023, through April 2, 2024, McArdle used Telegram to distribute and sell CSAM, the production of which involved the use of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Following the execution of a search warrant, the FBI located hundreds of images and videos of CSAM on McArdle's cell phone, including images which depicted a minor who had not attained 12 years of age engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Arlington County Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Derry.

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 United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.