A Wareham man who amassed thousands of files of child sexual abuse material is headed to federal prison for more than seven years. On Friday, a federal judge sentenced him to 90 months behind bars after he pleaded guilty to possessing and receiving child sexual abuse material. Court filings and local reporting say investigators recovered roughly 9,400 images and videos from his devices, including material prosecutors said involved infants, and that he posted child-abuse videos to an online chat group. U.S. District Judge Myong J. Joun also ordered five years of supervised release after his prison term.
Federal sentence and charges
According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts, 50-year-old Brandon Bendall pleaded guilty in February 2026 to one count of possession of child pornography and one count of receipt of child pornography. On Friday, he was sentenced to 90 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. The office said Bendall was arrested on May 2, 2025, and later indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2025. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
Evidence and investigation
Court records and local reporting indicate agents seized approximately 9,400 images and videos of child sexual abuse material from Bendall’s residence and cell phone, including files depicting infants, and that he posted at least 17 videos to an online chat group, as reported by Hyannis News. Local broadcaster WBSM reported matching details drawn from court papers and the U.S. Attorney’s announcement.
Agencies credited and prosecution
The federal announcement named Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division, and credited the Massachusetts State Police along with the Wareham, Marion and East Bridgewater police departments for investigative assistance, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Prosecutors said the matter was handled by the Major Crimes Unit and brought as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood initiative.
Legal context
Federal statutes covering receipt and certain distribution offenses generally carry a mandatory minimum of five years and a statutory maximum of 20 years in prison, while possession and other related counts can involve different ranges depending on the subsection and circumstances. The primary statutes are 18 U.S.C. §§ 2252 and 2252A, which set out the elements and penalties. Sentencing guidelines, aggravating factors and any prior convictions can increase an offender’s recommended guideline range.
Officials say the case reflects ongoing multi-agency work targeting online child exploitation. Authorities encourage anyone with information about suspected child sexual abuse material to contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s CyberTipline at missingkids.org.
