Akron Man Sentenced to More Than 12 Years in Prison For Child Pornography Offenses

CLEVELAND - A Summit County man was sentenced to federal prison for receiving, distributing, and possessing materials that depicted the sexual abuse of children.

Brandon Dolly, 23, of Akron, Ohio, was sentenced to 151 months (12.58 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge Christopher A. Boyko, after pleading guilty in March to Receipt and Distribution of Visual Depictions of Real Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct and Possession of Child Pornography, also known as Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM). Dolly was also ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release after imprisonment and is required to register as a sex offender. In addition, he was ordered to pay $46,500 in restitution to victims and $15,200 in special assessments.

Court documents show that in January 2025, FBI agents began an investigation into various social media accounts that were suspected of trading CSAM. Brandon Dolly was then identified. A search warrant was executed at his residence in Akron and resulted in the seizure of several electronic devices. Upon further forensic examination, investigators determined that Dolly's devices contained approximately 29,788 child sexual abuse images and that he had been actively receiving and distributing CSAM from about October 2023 through March 2025.

The case was investigated by the FBI Akron Resident Agency and the Akron Police Department.

Assistant United States Attorney Joseph P. Dangelo for the Northern District Ohio led the prosecution.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative is led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices throughout the country and marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit justice.gov/PSC.

To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.orgLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link., or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.