ROGERS, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — A man who claimed to be a “predator hunter” and was arrested by Northwest Arkansas authorities has received a federal sentence for possessing child sexual abuse materials (CSAM), according to court documents.
Brandon San-Miguel, 40, was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in federal prison with 10 years suspended on Aug. 5 for one count of possession of child pornography. He pleaded guilty to the charge on Jan. 21.
As part of his sentence, San-Miguel was ordered to have no contact with minors and no possession or access to electronic devices with storage capabilities.
San-Miguel’s counsel filed a notice on Aug. 18, notifying the judge that he did not plan to appeal the sentence.
San-Miguel’s state case
San-Miguel was also facing charges in Benton County: 10 counts of possession of child pornography and one count of theft by receiving.
The Benton County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office told KNWA/FOX24 that after learning of San-Miguel’s federal sentence, a nolle prosequi order was sent to the judge.
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Nolle prosequi means prosecutors will not pursue the charges against him in that county.
The case was closed on Aug. 18.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed on July 3, Rogers police conducted a traffic stop on San-Miguel on June 17 for outstanding warrants out of California for child pornography.
San-Miguel was first arrested for the drug charge after debit and credit cards in other people’s names, drug paraphernalia and a semi-automatic rifle were found.
San-Miguel was taken to jail, and an inventory of his personal items was taken, which included cell phones, flash drives, SIM cards and laptops.
San-Miguel later told detectives he was part of an online “predator hunter” group and would set up fake accounts to get people to send him child porn, according to the affidavit.
He said he would save the material sent to him and provide it to the police. San-Miguel said he previously provided files to the San Diego Police Department.
San-Miguel claimed he used cell phones and laptops to conduct undercover operations and reported that at the time of his arrest, he was still active in predator hunting.
“Brandon continually said he was not a bad person and that he wanted to help law enforcement,” the affidavit said.
Officers reviewed San-Miguel’s criminal history and found he was arrested in 2019 for “alien smuggling” and in 2023 for possession of a controlled substance while armed, possession of a controlled substance for sale, unlawful vehicle registration, and transport/sale of narcotics.
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On June 18, RPD contacted the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in California, who said that after San-Miguel’s 2023 arrest, his devices were searched. OCSO found 47 child porn videos, 14 pictures. The average age of the victims was found to be between nine and 11 years old, the affidavit said.
San-Miguel’s devices were searched on June 20 and multiple videos of child porn were found by authorities. He previously told police that there would be no child porn on his devices, according to the affidavit.
Police said they also found Google searches on one device that said “In Arkansas an adult can date a 16-year-old” and “What are some teen dating apps girls in Arkansas use?”
San-Miguel’s Sept. 2 pretrial hearing was vacated.
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