44-year-old Michael Lee Patterson was one of 7 arrested during 15-agency Operation Spring Clean in May 2023, including men from Oakley, San Ramon, another from Brentwood
Will also face 10 years of supervised release, ordered to pay restitution
By U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of California
OAKLAND – Michael Lee Patterson was sentenced on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, to 103 months in federal prison for receipt of child pornography and possession of an unregistered short-barreled rifle. U.S. District Judge Haywood S. Gilliam, Jr. handed down the sentence.
As previously reported, Patterson, 44, of Brentwood, was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 18, 2024. He pleaded guilty on May 21, 2025, to both counts. According to the plea agreement, Patterson attempted to meet an individual whom he believed to be a 13-year-old girl to perform sexual acts on her. After his arrest the week of May 31, 2023, Patterson was found to be in possession of over 600 videos and 1,000 images containing depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Law enforcement also found Patterson in possession of a short-barreled rifle, which he had not registered with the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, as required by law.
Patterson was one of seven men arrested while the Brentwood Police Department hosted the Contra Costa County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force for an operation targeting adults who were seeking to meet minors for sex with the goal of identifying victims of child sexual abuse. A total of 15 law enforcement agencies participated in “Operation Spring Cleaning,” which encompassed over 1,200 law enforcement work hours throughout the week. The ICAC Task Force seized approximately 40 illegal firearms and 39 electronic devices, executed eight (search warrants, and impounded five vehicles.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian, U.S. Secret Service (USSS) San Francisco Field Office Special Agent in Charge Shawn Bradstreet, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Topper made the announcement.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Gilliam also sentenced Patterson to a 10-year period of supervised release and ordered him to pay restitution. The defendant was immediately remanded into custody to begin serving his sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonah P. Ross is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Claudia Hyslop. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the USSS, ATF, Silicon Valley Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Brentwood, Concord and Walnut Creek Police Departments, and the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office.
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.