Federal prosecutors allege a 23-year-old Washington man used a phone application to alter hundreds of photographs, including images of minors, to make the subjects appear nude.
Brady Bingham Hall, of Skamania County, is facing a federal charge of possessing images of child pornography after investigators allegedly found the manipulated photographs on his phone. Some of the images involved children as young as 12, according to the US Department of Justice.
Phone App Allegedly Removed Clothing From Photos
According to the criminal complaint, Hall told investigators that he had used a phone application that removed clothing from images, making the subjects appear nude. He allegedly used the application on hundreds of images, including photographs of children as young as 12.
At least one altered photograph had the words 'AI generated' across it, according to the Justice Department.
Acting US Attorney Charles Neil Floyd said artificial intelligence can be used to engage in criminal misconduct.
'Like any other tool, Artificial Intelligence can be used to engage in criminal misconduct,' Floyd said. 'If you make a choice to generate AI images, you better be sure they don't violate the law. In this case, sexually lascivious images of minors clearly crosses the line.'
The case followed Hall's arrest by Skamania County Sheriff's deputies on 29 August 2025. According to the DOJ, officers found two firearms, ammunition and controlled substances in his car. Police also seized his iPhone and obtained a warrant to examine its contents.
Social Media Photos Found Alongside Altered Versions
While examining the phone, a deputy reportedly recognised images of young people from the Skamania area. The device contained screenshots taken from social media featuring some minors, followed by versions of the same photographs in which the children appeared nude.
Hall agreed to speak with investigators and said he had used the application to remove clothing from photographs. Law enforcement subsequently confirmed the identities of some of the children in the original images and established that they were minors.
The DOJ said Hall had used the application on hundreds of images. It did not state that all of those images involved children or that all came from social media.
Federal Charge Carries 20-Year Maximum Sentence
Hall has been indicted on a federal charge of possession of images of child pornography. The offence carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, according to the Justice Department.
The charges contained in the indictment are allegations, and Hall is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Skamania County Sheriff's Office. Assistant US Attorney Matthew Hampton is prosecuting the case.
Skamania County Sheriff Summer Scheyer said the department was proud to work with Homeland Security Investigations on the case.
'Our children are our future,' Scheyer said. 'We are proud to partner with Homeland Security Investigations on this case. A crime like this has no place in either Skamania County or our country as a whole.'
Acting HSI Seattle Special Agent in Charge April Miller also praised the sheriff's office for identifying the images that led to the federal charge.
'We want to commend the diligence of the Skamania County Sheriff's Office in identifying the child pornography images which led to this charge,' Miller said. 'We will always work with our local, state and federal partners in our fight against the production of these materials and the protection of our children.'
Case Brought Under Project Safe Childhood
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative launched in May 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.
The programme is led by US Attorneys' Offices and the Justice Department's Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section. It brings together federal, state and local resources to investigate and prosecute cases involving the online exploitation of children.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Skamania County Sheriff's Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant US Attorney Matthew Hampton.
