This news release was originally published by the US Attorney's Office, Northern District of Iowa. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Man Charged with Nine Counts Related to Child Exploitation and Child Sexual Abuse Material

(February 26, 2026) – Cedar Rapids, Iowa --- Brandon Scott Baker, age 39, formerly from Grundy Center, Iowa, has been charged with one count of sexual exploitation of a child, two counts of transporting a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, one count of receipt of child pornography, one count of transportation of child pornography, and four counts of possession of child pornography.  The charges are contained in an Indictment filed on February 24, 2026, in United States District Court in Cedar Rapids.   

The Indictment alleges that, over the course of several years, Baker used or attempted to use a minor to produce visual depictions of sexually explicit conduct, transported a minor across state lines with the intent to engage in sexual activity, and received, transported, and possessed child pornography.   

If convicted on all charges, Baker faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life in prison and supervised release for life following any imprisonment. 

Baker is next scheduled to appear in court on March 6, 2026, to be arraigned on the charges in the Indictment.  He was previously charged via criminal complaint and last appeared in court on February 23, 2026, in Cedar Rapids.  Baker is being held without bond.   

As with any criminal case, a charge is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Devra 

T. Hake and is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Telluride, Colorado, Police Department, and the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office.  Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.

The case file number is 26-cr-00012.  Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.

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For further information contact: 
Tony.Morfitt@usdoj.gov
(319) 363-6333 
Cedar Rapids, Iowa