Gainesville Man Admits to Federal Child Pornography Charges Following Secret Recordings in Public Restrooms

Bryan James Shuping, a 58-year-old resident of Gainesville, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography, announced John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

Court documents reveal that from June 18, 2025, through August 2, 2025, Shuping repeatedly entered men’s public restrooms at the Oaks Mall and Depot Park in Gainesville. During these visits, he secretly recorded videos and captured images of minors using the facilities. The footage depicted the minors with exposed genitals while attempting to use the bathroom.

Shuping admitted that these recordings were made for his sexual gratification. Additionally, he acknowledged possessing other child pornography images downloaded from the internet.

U.S. Attorney Heekin emphasized the commitment of his office to protecting children from sexual predators, stating, “Keeping our kids safe from disgusting sexual predators, like this defendant, is of paramount importance to me and my office. We will continue to aggressively prosecute these crimes to ensure he and others like him remain locked away behind federal bars for as long as possible.”

The defendant faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison, with a potential maximum of life imprisonment. Sentencing is scheduled for February 16, 2027, at 10:30 a.m. before Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor at the United States Courthouse in Gainesville.

This investigation was conducted jointly by Homeland Security Investigations and the Gainesville Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Tyler Fleming is prosecuting the case.

Authorities encourage anyone with information regarding nonconsensual filming of minors at the specified locations and dates to contact Homeland Security Investigations via email at NDFL_HSI_Gainesville@ice.dhs.gov.

This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative launched in May 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. The project coordinates federal, state, and local resources to identify, apprehend, and prosecute offenders, as well as to rescue victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood is available at Justice.gov/PSC.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida serves as one of 94 principal litigators under the Attorney General’s direction. Public court documents can be accessed through the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida’s website. Additional information about the office is available at https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.

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