A Shelton man has been sentenced to 12 ½ years in federal prison after authorities linked him to more than 3,000 child sexual abuse files and online communications in which he allegedly offered to pay multiple people to sexually exploit their children during video calls.
Burnest Geyer, Jr., 32, faced sentencing on Thursday in federal court in New Haven, where U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden ordered that his prison term be followed by 10 years of supervised release, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut.
According to authorities with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Geyer was allegedly caught “engaging in a pattern of activity involving the sexual abuse or exploitation of minors, including attempting to produce child pornography.”
Federal officials said authorities began investigating Geyer after learning that he had allegedly told someone he possessed child pornography videos. He had also allegedly communicated with another individual through Telegram — an encrypted messaging app — about his child pornography collection, authorities said.
During a correspondence on Telegram in July 2024, Geyer allegedly shared his laptop screen and showed pictures and videos of children being sexually abused, officials said. He was first arrested on Oct. 8, 2024, when authorities searched his residence and seized his iPhone as well as other items, officials said.
An analysis of the Telegram app on his iPhone turned up more than 3,000 images and videos depicting child pornography, including the sexual abuse of infants and toddlers, officials said. Investigators allege they also found “numerous conversations” Geyer had with individuals on Telegram and WhatsApp, including more than 50 “adult content creators.”
According to officials, Geyer expressed his interest in the sexual abuse of minors and offered to pay the content creators to sexually exploit their children over video calls with him, officials said. In some conversations, he allegedly admitted he had sexually abused minors, officials said.
On July 28, Geyer pleaded guilty to receipt and distribution of child pornography. He has been in custody since Aug. 5 when his bond was revoked, officials said.