Berks County Child Predator Sentenced to Eighteen Years

PHILADELPHIA – U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain announced that Sean Fager, 54, of Reading, Pennsylvania was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment, followed by lifetime supervised release by Judge Jeffrey L. Schmehl.  In January 2019, Fager pleaded guilty to charges of production, transportation and possession of child pornography, including amassing a collection of more than 400 digital images and several videos found on his personal computer.

In March 2014, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children shared a tip with law enforcement about suspected child pornography being uploaded from an IP address belonging to the defendant.  An investigation revealed hundreds of images of child pornography, some of which appeared to be homemade, and evidence that the defendant participated in bondage and diaper fetish behavior.  Most egregiously, Fager took photos of two children, a boy and a girl both around the age of 5, depicting these fetishes for his own sexual gratification.

“This defendant’s conduct was abhorrent.  He preyed on the most vulnerable of victims – two five-year-old children.  Fager, and others like him who participate in the world of child pornography, perpetuate the harm to the victims by creating demand and fueling this market,” said U.S. Attorney McSwain.  “These children are victimized every time their images are downloaded, purchased, or viewed by another person.  Their exploitation is ongoing and relentless.  This sentence demonstrates the seriousness of these crimes and the ferocity with which we will prosecute them.”

“Anyone willing to sexually exploit children deserves to feel the full force of the law,” said Michael T. Harpster, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Philadelphia Division. “Sean Fager eagerly victimized two young children. Society is unquestionably safer with predators like him behind bars, and the FBI will never stop working to bring such criminals to justice.”

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Amanda Reinitz and Christine Sykes.