A Washington, D.C. man is facing federal child-pornography charges after investigators say he sent explicit videos of child sexual abuse and tried to solicit minors online. According to court records, the case started with undercover online conversations that federal agents traced back to a D.C. account, ultimately landing the suspect in U.S. District Court, where he has been ordered held without bond as the case moves forward.
Indictment details
In a June 11, 2025 press release, the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Columbia announced that 28-year-old Zachary Silas Brandner had been indicted on charges of distributing multiple videos of child pornography. The indictment, unsealed in U.S. District Court, also notes that a magistrate judge ordered Brandner detained without bond.
According to an affidavit summarized in that release, Brandner allegedly sent the explicit material during online conversations on April 1, 2025. Some of the videos, prosecutors say, showed the sexual abuse of an infant. The press release states that the case stemmed from an undercover operation and the execution of digital warrants, and it identifies the prosecution team assigned to handle the case.
How prosecutors say he made contact online
Reporting from DC News Now says Brandner allegedly turned to Discord and other messaging platforms to seek out explicit videos. At least once, according to that coverage, he reached out to what he thought was another user on the dating app Jack'd. The profile instead belonged to an undercover officer.
DC News Now, citing court papers and law-enforcement sources, reports that investigators used chat logs and account records from those platforms to identify the person behind the online accounts.
Investigators and community impact
The U.S. Attorney's Office reports that the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force worked alongside the Metropolitan Police Department on the investigation, a partnership that officials say is typical in online child-enticement and exploitation probes.
As the FBI notes, these task forces, along with tip services and digital forensics teams, play a key role in tracing online accounts, securing search warrants, and helping identify potential victims in cases like this.
What the charges carry
Federal laws covering the receipt and distribution of child sexual abuse material generally carry a mandatory minimum prison sentence of five years, with maximum penalties that can reach 20 years for a first offense. More serious conduct such as production or aggravated offenses can bring even higher penalties. A report by the U.S. Sentencing Commission on federal child-pornography offenses details those ranges and outlines the factors judges weigh at sentencing.
How to report tips and what's next
An indictment is a formal accusation, not a conviction, and Brandner is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty in court. He remains in custody as the case proceeds, and court filings do not yet list a public trial date.
Law enforcement officials are asking anyone with information related to this investigation to contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children's CyberTipline at CyberTipline or reach out to the FBI.
