Michigan Man Charged with Interstate Sexual Exploitation of Children

ERIE, Pa. – A resident of Dearborn Heights, Michigan, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Erie on federal charges relating to the sexual exploitation of children, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.

The three-count Indictment named Matthew James Chantelois, 45, as the sole defendant.

According to the Indictment presented to the Court, from in and around October 2023 to in and around January 2024, Chantelois used, persuaded, induced, and enticed a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of that conduct. The Indictment also charges Chantelois with possessing and transporting child sexual abuse material in interstate commerce.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 15 years and up to 60 years in prison, a fine of up to $750,000, 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 Christian A. Trabold is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pennsylvania State Police, New York State Police, and Dearborn Heights Police Department 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 (CEOS), 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.