Wisconsin Rapids Man Sentenced to 6 Years for Distributing Child Pornography

MADISON, WIS. - Timothy M. O'Shea, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Benjamin T. Mann, 40, Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 6 years in prison followed by 15 years of supervised release for distributing child pornography. Mann pleaded guilty to this charge on September 9, 2021.

In July 2020, law enforcement executed a search warrant at a home in Ohio. In reviewing devices found during the search, they discovered that Mann sent the Ohio resident child pornography and communicated with him about sexually assaulting children. In addition, the investigation revealed that Mann posted images of child pornography and discussed assaulting children in Kik chat rooms with that resident and others.

Judge Peterson said that the discussions about sexually assaulting children were an aggravating factor and that the sentence imposed would protect the community for approximately 20 years.

The charge against Mann was the result of an investigation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations, the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal of Investigation, and the Wood County Sheriff's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Altman prosecuted this case.