An Oologah man, identified as Bradley Andrew Friend, 40, has been given a sentence exceeding 16 years after being convicted of child enticement charges. As reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office, U.S. District Judge Terence C. Kern handed down the sentence which includes 200 months of imprisonment and 15 years of supervised release. Friend is also mandated to register as a sex offender upon his release.
During an investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, Friend entered into a dialogue with an undercover agent online in December 2024. Court records revealed that engaging in conversations desperately graphic about family incest, Friend was under the belief he was conversing with an adult possessing minor children. Upon his confession of holding child pornography, Homeland Security Agents, having found the location of Friend in Oologah, permitted a search of his cellphone whereupon incriminating messages and images were unearthed.
Friend's online activities stretched from September 2023 through July 2024 when he knowingly lured a 16-year-old to produce and share explicit photos, while also sending the minor explicit images of himself. Friend conceded to having obtained, received, and distributed over 600 images involving minor children, with some being younger than 12, engaged in explicit conduct.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative targeted at the increasing issue of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, it looks to improve efforts to track and prosecute internet exploiters of children, as well as to assist in victim recovery. For those wanting more information about Project Safe Childhood, having the initiative led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, the Department of Justice website provides additional resources.
