A Groveton resident has been sentenced to 51 months in federal prison for traveling from New Hampshire to Vermont with the intent to sexually abuse a minor, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan.
Brandon Couture, 39, received his sentence from U.S. District Court Judge Samantha Elliott and will also serve seven years of supervised release following his imprisonment. Couture pleaded guilty on May 22, 2025, to one count of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual activity.
“This defendant’s conduct was predatory and calculated. He crossed state lines with the sole purpose of abusing a child,” said U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan. “This 51-month sentence underscores our commitment to protecting children from those who aim to exploit them, and it sends a clear message: If you prey on minors, we will use every tool and resource at our disposal to investigate you, prosecute you, and ensure you are held accountable.”
“It’s grimly ironic that Brandon Couture, a father himself, admitted to actively planning, and traveling across state lines to sexually abuse a 15-year-old girl. This predator victimized a vulnerable minor and with today’s sentence, he’ll pay a steep price for his atrocious behavior,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “Those who sexually exploit children do serious lasting harm, and the FBI is committed to finding and bringing them to justice.”
Couture was arrested on June 13, 2024 after law enforcement determined he had traveled between states for criminal sexual activity involving a minor.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation into Couture’s actions. The Northumberland Police Department and Essex County Sheriff’s Department in Vermont assisted with the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Vicinanzo prosecuted.
The prosecution was part of Project Safe Childhood—an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child exploitation through collaboration among federal, state, and local agencies nationwide (https://www.justice.gov/psc).
