Philadelphia Pastor Pleads Guilty in Child Exploitation Case; Second Pastor Also Charged

Bryan Jackson, 42, a Philadelphia pastor, pleaded guilty Nov. 4 to federal charges involving the sexual exploitation of minors, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania announced the next day. Jackson entered his plea before U.S. District Judge Joel H. Slomsky.

The charges include conspiracy to manufacture child pornography, manufacture and attempted manufacture of child pornography, and receipt of child pornography. The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Jackson was arrested on a criminal complaint and warrant in June, charged by information in September, and waived prosecution by indictment when he pleaded guilty.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Nov. 5 announcement, Jackson and his co-defendant Isaiah Banks, 30, whom CBS Philadelphia identified as a pastor at Second Pilgrim Baptist Church, deceived “Minor 1” into believing that he was communicating with an older girl, then enticed and directed him to create sexually explicit images and videos. The office said that the duo shared that material. It also said that Jackson had knowingly received visual depictions involving “Minor 2” from about November 22, 2025, through about May 28, 2026. The release referred to the minors only as “Minor 1” and “Minor 2.”

An earlier June 29 U.S. Attorney’s Office release said that the criminal complaints also alleged that Banks and Jackson deceived “Minor 2” by telling him that Banks would sell the videos to a girl and share some of the money with him. That detail was alleged in the complaints. The Nov. 5 plea announcement does not say that Jackson admitted it as part of his plea. CBS Philadelphia also reported that Banks had recently resigned from his church role.

The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office announced separate state charges against Jackson and Banks on June 23. Its release listed charges including conspiracy, sexual abuse and exploitation of children, corruption of minors, and unlawful contact with a minor. The office said that both men had posted bail and were awaiting preliminary hearings at that time. Glorious Grace could not verify the current status of those separate state charges; the federal plea announcement does not address it.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said that the case was investigated by the Philadelphia Police Department’s Special Victims Unit and Homeland Security Investigations. Jackson is scheduled to be sentenced February 19, 2027. Prosecutors said that he faces a maximum possible sentence of 80 years in prison. The court will determine the sentence.

The June CBS Philadelphia report linked below identified Jackson as senior pastor of Garden of Prayer World Prayer Center at the time. The U.S. Attorney’s and District Attorney’s releases did not name the congregation, and Glorious Grace could not confirm whether he still serves there or is still affiliated with the church.

WATCH:

Comments:

Privacy Policy

Terms and Conditions

Follow Glorious Grace for biblical truth, Christian encouragement, and new resources.

© 2026 Glorious Grace. All rights reserved.