Bucks County Man Detained on Enticement and Attempted Manufacture of Child Pornography Charges

PHILADELPHIA – U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain announced that Michael Schamach, 32, of Warrington, PA, was detained today in federal custody on one charge of Enticement of a Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity and one charge of Attempted Manufacture of Child Pornography.

According to the criminal complaint filed against the defendant, Schamach asked an individual (who unbeknownst to him was an undercover FBI agent posing as a child’s mother) to provide her 11 year-old daughter to Schamach for sexual intercourse. Previously, the defendant had allegedly offered a finder’s fee that would depend on the age of the child: the younger the victim, the greater the finder’s fee. During a two-day period of text message negotiations between Schamach and the undercover agent, Schamach allegedly requested nude and sexually explicit photos of the child, and he agreed to pay to have sexual intercourse with the child. The complaint alleges that Schamach agreed to meet the child at a local hotel on Friday, December 7, 2018. At the agreed upon time and location, Schamach allegedly arrived, equipped with personal lubricant, payment for the “mother” of the child, and candy for the child. The defendant was immediately arrested by FBI agents. After appearing in U.S. Magistrate Court today, the Honorable Richard A. Lloret found that there was probable cause and detained the defendant until his trial, holding that the defendant was a danger to the community.

“This Office is committed to keeping our children safe from harm,” said U.S. Attorney McSwain. “And I want to thank the FBI, as well as the Bensalem and Warminster Police Departments, for their continued efforts to combat the attempted manufacture of child pornography and the enticement of minors.”

If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of life imprisonment, with a minimum mandatory 15 year term, a minimum five years up to lifetime supervised release, $500,000 in fines, a $200 special assessment, and, if found to be non-indigent, an additional mandatory $10,000 assessment must be imposed.         

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bensalem and Warminster Police Departments, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joseph A. LaBar.                                                                           

An indictment, information or criminal complaint is an accusation.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.