An Oakland County man who is facing federal charges after posing as a teen boy online to exploit girls, and as a father looking for a babysitter, was back in court on Friday.
Brandon John Cifani, 29, appeared in court on Friday, Oct. 17, for an arraignment after a federal grand jury indicted him on charges including sexual exploitation of children, receipt, distribution, and possession of child pornography, and coercion and enticement of minors.
Background –> From babysitter scams to child exploitation: Nannies unite after alleged predator appears in court
If convicted, he faces 15-30 years in prison on count one, 10 years up to life in prison on count two, and up to 10 years in prison on count three.
All three counts also each carry a fine of up to $250,000 and at least five years, and up to a lifetime of supervised release.
Cifani stood mute to the charges, and a not guilty plea was entered on his behalf. He remains behind bars.
The 29-year-old is accused of posing as a teen boy online to sexually exploit young girls.
Border Patrol agents investigating Cifani for months found photos and videos of underage girls on his phone at Detroit Metro Airport. He allegedly posed as a teen boy named “Brody” online, asked a 12-year-old girl to perform sexual acts, and secretly recorded other girls.
Cifani also allegedly posed as a father looking for a babysitter online.
“I thank God every day,” said Shelby Clark, who said she encountered Cifani when he was posing as a father looking for a babysitter for his son. “My family thanks God every day. My parents tell me I had an angel on my shoulder that day.”
Clark, who works part-time in childcare, met Cifani through Care.com.
When he came to her home without a child, he asked inappropriate questions and requested to go upstairs with her.
Clark then asked him if he was there for childcare, and he claimed he was there for “companionship,” prompting Clark to tell him to leave immediately.
As she closed the door, Clark said Cifani continued to act like he was invited over to hang out.
Read more — ‘He could’ve attacked me’: How woman says instincts helped her out of ‘babysitter interview’
Records show that Cifani was charged with fraud and forgery in 2018. He was sentenced to a day in jail and probation back then.
Local 4’s Erika Erickson also learned that Cifani’s name popped up in multiple reports in Oakland County, with the most recent being a sexual assault investigation in April of 2024. The sheriff’s office said prosecutors didn’t have enough evidence to file charges.
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