San Diego Police Officer Charged in Federal Child Exploitation Case Involving Three Minors
A San Diego police officer has been charged in federal court with five child exploitation-related offenses involving three minor victims, according to federal prosecutors.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California said a grand jury indictment against Brandon McGibbon, 33, was unsealed in San Diego. Prosecutors said the charges include attempted receipt of child sexual abuse material, attempted sexual exploitation of a minor and attempted enticement of a minor.
According to court records summarized by prosecutors, the alleged conduct occurred between Oct. 25 and Nov. 6, 2025.
The case has quickly gained local attention across social media, with San Diego news outlets and community pages sharing posts about the federal charges on Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.
That social media attention adds to the local stakes because McGibbon was a San Diego Police Department officer, and the case involves allegations tied to multiple minor victims.
NBC 7 San Diego reported that SDPD said McGibbon was suspended after the department learned of the investigation and that his police powers were removed.
“We hold our officers to the highest standards, and these allegations do not reflect the great work of the men and women of the San Diego Police Department,” SDPD said in a statement reported by NBC 7 San Diego.
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Federal prosecutors said the FBI led the investigation with cooperation from SDPD. The case is also tied to the U.S. Attorney’s Office Special Victims Unit, which was formed in April 2025 to support federal and local investigations involving child exploitation, sex trafficking, civil rights and labor trafficking.
The legal stakes are significant. Prosecutors said the attempted receipt charge carries a five-year mandatory minimum and up to life in prison. Attempted sexual exploitation of a minor carries a 10-year mandatory minimum and up to life. Attempted enticement carries a 15-year mandatory minimum and up to life if convicted.
McGibbon is expected to make his first federal court appearance Tuesday, May 26.
The charges are allegations. The U.S. Attorney’s Office said McGibbon is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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