Michael David Bulanda, 37, of New Boston, Michigan, pleaded guilty yesterday to one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, facing a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison.
Bulanda's plea follows his involvement in a scheme where he sent a nude image of a minor, MV-1, to another man, arrested by the FBI Philadelphia office in December 2025 for child pornography production. Bulanda asked the man to blackmail MV-1 for “more nudes,” providing personal information about the minor and her family to facilitate the crime. They discussed posting the minor’s picture publicly to instill fear.
U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr., said, "This pervert tried to blackmail a child by making her ‘feel fear’ so that he could abuse her even more. Now, he will feel justice." Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office, added that using fear, manipulation, and blackmail to exploit a child is "among the most reprehensible crimes we investigate."
Sentencing for Bulanda is scheduled for September 22, 2026, where he faces a possible sentence of life imprisonment. The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case, which Assistant United States Attorney Zachary Zurek is prosecuting.