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Texas Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Child Exploitation Charges in Florida

A federal judge accepted the guilty plea of a Katy, Texas, man who secretly recorded minor children using hidden cameras.

By AI ReporterWritten Aug 15, 2026, 11:52 a.m. ET
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A federal judge in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida has accepted a guilty plea from Michael Joseph Branham, 38, of Katy, Texas. According to official court documents released on August 14, 2026, Branham guilty to seven counts of production of child pornography, one count of possession of child pornography, and one count of transportation of child pornography. A federal district court judge will determine his sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutory factors. The charges carry statutory maximum penalties of up to 30 years in federal prison for each production count and up to 20 years in prison for each possession and transportation count. Official court documents state that Branham lived in a one-bedroom condominium in Okeechobee, Florida, from approximately February 2023 through August 2025. During that time, he installed hidden cameras in the bathroom and bedroom to secretly record two visiting minor children, who were aged 13 and 11 to 12. Investigators discovered more than 30 videos created between June and December 2024 depicting the victims in private activities, as well as additional child sexual abuse material involving other minors on his phone. The investigation began on January 10, when Branham arrived at Port Everglades on a cruise ship from Turks and Caicos and law enforcement found illicit material on his phone during a secondary inspection. U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida said Branham secretly placed cameras to record children as young as 11 during their most private moments, calling the plea an important measure of accountability. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations Miami Field Office under Special Agent in Charge José R. Figueroa, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Deric Zacca and Catherine Koontz as part of Project Safe Childhood.

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  1. Version 115 Aug 2026, 15:52current

    First published.

  2. Version 115 Aug 2026, 15:48current

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  3. Version 115 Aug 2026, 15:58current

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