MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, and Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul announced that Brett Blomme, 39, Cottage Grove, Wisconsin was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 9 years in prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release, for distributing child pornography. Blomme pleaded guilty to this charge on September 28, 2021. At the time he committed this offense, Blomme was a Milwaukee County Children’s Court judge.
On January 28, 2021, the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) received a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. According to the CyberTip, a person with the username “dommasterbb” used Kik Messenger to distribute 27 files of child pornography. The images and videos showed prepubescent children posing in lewd and lascivious positions, underage children performing sexual acts on adults, and adults sexually abusing minors.
DCI obtained a search warrant for dommasterbb’s Kik account. In response to this warrant, DCI agents received detailed information associated with dommasterbb’s profile, which included a personal email address. Information from the email provider showed Blomme used the email address linked to dommasterbb’s Kik account.
DCI agents also reviewed log files they received from Kik. These log files captured transactional data each time dommasterbb distributed the child pornography, including the IP address. Subscriber information associated with the IP addresses showed Blomme distributed child pornography from his house in Cottage Grove, a residence in the Milwaukee area, and the Milwaukee County Children’s Court Center where he worked.
When DCI agents executed a search warrant at Blomme’s residence, they found electronic devices that contained numerous text messages between Blomme and other individuals that centered on Blomme’s sexual interest in children.
At sentencing, Judge Peterson highlighted the egregious nature of the material Blomme distributed and described it as the “worst of the worst.” Judge Peterson also noted that Blomme’s sustained pattern of illegal behavior while sitting as a judge was an aggravating factor that supported a significant term of imprisonment.
“Today’s sentence sends an unambiguous message that we will track down and hold accountable those who distribute child sexual abuse material,” said Acting U.S. Attorney O’Shea. “Every time an image of child sexual abuse is shared, it re-victimizes that child. No one is above the law and I am grateful to our law enforcement partners who helped ensure that the defendant would be held accountable for his crimes.”
“The Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation does important work to protect children’s safety, including investigating internet crimes against children,” said Attorney General Kaul. “Thank you to the investigators and prosecutors who have ensured that these heinous and deeply disturbing crimes have resulted in serious consequences.”
The charge against Blomme was the result of an investigation conducted by DCI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chadwick M. Elgersma and Wisconsin Assistant Attorney General David Maas prosecuted this case.
