Press Release
Perryopolis Man Indicted on Charges Involving the Sexual Exploitation of Minors
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Pennsylvania
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Perryopolis, PA, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges involving the sexual exploitation of minors, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
The two-count Indictment, returned on May 18, 2022, and unsealed today, named Sean Ryan McKenzie, 37, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment presented to the court, on June 8, 2021, McKenzie attempted to and did use, persuade, induce, entice, and coerce a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing any visual depiction of such conduct. Further, the Indictment alleges that on March 1, 2022, McKenzie knowingly possessed visual depictions, namely, videos and images in computer graphic and digital files, the production of which involved the use of minors, including prepubescent minors who have not attained 12 years of age, engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
For the charge of production of material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor, the law provides for a sentence of not less than 15 years and up to life imprisonment, a fine of $250,000.00, or both. For the charge of possession of material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor, the maximum penalty is a term of imprisonment of 20 years, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Heidi M. Grogan is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
Homeland Security Investigations—Pittsburgh and the Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Updated May 23, 2022
Topic
Project Safe Childhood
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