Evergreen Reporter

A federal grand jury has indicted Bradley D. Hounsell, a 43-year-old resident of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, on charges related to child pornography production. Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, made the announcement following the indictment issued on April 15, 2025. The charges allege that Hounsell "attempted to and did employ a minor under the age of 18, to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct" in breach of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2251(a), 2251(e), and 2(a).

The indictment, which was recently unsealed, suggests that between November 4 and November 8, 2023, Hounsell persuaded and coerced a minor to transport child pornography via the internet. If found guilty, Hounsell could face a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison, with a maximum sentence of 30 years. Additional penalties could include a fine of up to $250,000 and a requirement to register as a sex offender at both state and federal levels.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice aimed at addressing child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative aims to use federal, state, and local resources to apprehend and prosecute offenders and rescue victims. More information about this project can be found at www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation into this case, supported by the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office. Prosecution will be handled by Trial Attorney William G. Clayman from the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section and Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.

It is important to note that an indictment is merely a formal accusation. The defendant retains the right to a fair trial, where the government must establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.