Bend Police tip leads to Tacoma man’s nearly 14-year federal prison term for coercing, exploiting minor online
EUGENE, Ore. (KTVZ)--A Tacoma, Washington man has been sentenced to nearly 14 years in federal prison for using social media to coerce a minor into sending him sexually explicit materials and engage in self-harm - a case that began with a tip to Bend Police, federal prosecutors said.
Brandon Kuper, 22, was sentenced to 165 months in federal prison and 10 years' supervised release, Wednesday's news release said.
In late 2022, Bend Police Communications Manager Sheila Miller told KTVZ News, "Our officers and detectives conducted an investigation after receiving a local tip, and then handed off our info to a federal special agent to complete the case investigation."
According to court documents, in November 2022, Kuper messaged a minor through Discord and Snapchat, two social media messaging applications, in attempts to develop a relationship. Kuper coerced the victim into producing and sending him sexually explicit photos and videos, including sadistic and masochistic conduct.
When the victim denied some of Kuper's requests, he threatened to harm the victim and victim's family if his demands were not met. Kuper continued to make threats and demands until the victim bravely reported Kuper to their parents and then law enforcement.
Investigators learned that Kuper used Discord and Snapchat to find and convince minors to produce and send him sexually explicit material. In several instances, Kuper asked his victims to cut his social media username "Merqzs" into their skin, photograph it and send him the photos.
Investigators also found revenge pornography that Kuper created and posted of at least one other victim who did not comply with his demands.
On Nov. 10, 2022, Kuper was arrested in Tacoma and remains in custody. A week later, a federal grand jury in Eugene returned a two-count indictment charging Kuper with the production of child pornography and enticing a minor.
On Nov. 20, 2024, Kuper pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor.
The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations) with assistance from the Bend Police Department and Deschutes County Sheriff's Office Digital Forensics Laboratory. It was prosecuted by William M. McLaren, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children is encouraged to contact ICE HSI at (866) 347-2423 or submit a tip online at report.cybertip.org.
Federal law defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor. It is important to remember child sexual abuse material depicts actual crimes being committed against children.
Not only do these images and videos document the victims' exploitation and abuse, but when shared across the internet, re-victimize and re-traumatize the child victims each time their abuse is viewed.
To learn more, please visit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at www.missingkids.org.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
