On Thursday, March 21, 2013, PCSO undercover Computer Crimes detectives arrested brothers, 29-year-old Brian James Craft and 30-year-old Thomas James Craft, who both live with their mother at 5210 Dismuke Drive in Lakeland, and charged each with multiple counts Possession of Child Pornography. Brian was additionally charged with Lewd Molestation after detectives identified two children in the porn he had on his computer as children he had access to and whom he sexually molested.
According to their affidavits, the investigation began when detectives proactively found that child pornography was being downloaded and distributed from two computers located at the above-listed address. Detectives served a search warrant at the home, and seized the computers being used to distribute the images and movies depicting children involved in sex acts. Both Craft brothers admitted to detectives to downloading and distributing the images on their individual computers. Both Craft brothers were arrested and booked into the Polk County Jail.
Brian Craft has been charged with 22 counts Possession of Obscene Material Depicting Child (Enhanced) (F-2).
Thomas Craft has been charged with 16 counts Possession of Obscene Material Depicting Child (Enhanced) (F-2).
The detectives continued their investigation by conducting a forensic analysis on their computers and trying to identify any of the children in the images.
In April 2013, detectives interviewed three children that Brian Craft had access to in 2011. During interviews, two of the children (two females who are currently 6 and 9 years of age, but were aged 5 and 7 years old at the time) disclosed that Brian Craft had inappropriately touched them on different occasions while they were in his custody. Among the child pornography located on Craft's computers, detectives found images that he created of the two victims while he was inappropriately touching them.
Brian Craft has been additionally charged with: two counts Sexual Battery By Person Over 18 On Victim Under 12 (F-Capital); two counts Lewd and Lascivious Molestation (F-1); two counts Promotion of Sexual Performance By A Child (F-2); and 10 counts Possession of Images Depicting Child Having Sex (F-2).
"Brian Craft, and his brother Thomas, are monsters. They are the reason we conduct such thorough investigations on anyone who possess or distributes child pornography. Unfortunately, Brian wasn't just downloading images off the Internet and victimizing children in that manner. He also physically and psychologically damaged two very innocent, very young children who were in his care. He belongs behind bars for the rest of his life." - Sheriff Grady Judd