A San Diego police officer is facing a federal indictment on accusations that he sexually exploited minors, a case that has rattled both local law enforcement and the wider community. Federal prosecutors on Friday unsealed a grand jury indictment charging 33-year-old Brandon McGibbon with five counts tied to three minor victims. McGibbon is expected to make his initial appearance in federal court next Tuesday, May 26. The San Diego Police Department says it has suspended him and removed his police powers while investigators continue their work. The charges remain allegations at this stage, and McGibbon is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
According to a press release by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California, the indictment alleges that between Oct. 25 and Nov. 6, 2025, McGibbon engaged in the attempted receipt and production of child pornography and the attempted enticement and coercion of minors. The unsealed complaint identifies three minor victims and lists the case as No. 26cr1939-JO. Special agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, working with the cooperation of the San Diego Police Department, led the investigation.
The San Diego Police Department confirmed it is cooperating with federal authorities and that McGibbon has been suspended and stripped of his police powers, a department spokesperson told CBS 8. The department declined to release additional public details about the alleged victims while the federal case is pending, according to the local report. Investigators have also asked the public to avoid sharing unverified information as the probe continues.
Charges and Potential Penalties
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California, the indictment accuses McGibbon of attempted receipt of child pornography (18 U.S.C. §2252(a)(2)), attempted sexual exploitation of a minor (18 U.S.C. §2251(a)), and attempted enticement of a minor (18 U.S.C. §2422(b)). Each count carries mandatory minimum sentences and potential life terms. The office says the matter is being prosecuted by its Special Victims Unit, which was formed in April 2025 to lead collaborations on sex-trafficking and child-exploitation cases, and is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amy Brammell and Lyndzie M. Carter. Prosecutors have emphasized that the charges are accusations and must be proven in court.
Investigation and Next Steps
McGibbon is expected to make his initial appearance in federal court next Tuesday, May 26, when arraignment and scheduling will be set, local reporting says. CBS 8 reports that, if convicted on all counts, McGibbon could face roughly 30 years to life in prison. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has asked anyone with information to contact federal investigators, and the San Diego Police Department says it will continue to cooperate as the case moves forward through the federal courts.
