Imperial, Pa., Woman Charged with Distributing and Possessing Child Pornography

PITTSBURGH – A resident of Imperial, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of distribution and possession of material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor, Acting United States Attorney Soo C. Song announced today.

The five-count indictment, returned on January 24 and unsealed today, named Kaitlin Plascjak, 29, of Imperial, Pennsylvania as the sole defendant.

According to the indictment, on or about May 5, 2016, May 8, 2016 and June 28, 2016, Plascjak distributed images containing material depicting the sexual exploitation of minors. The indictment further alleges that on or about August 18, 2016, Plascjak knowingly possessed videos and images in computer graphic files, the production of which involved the use of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, some of whom had not yet attained 12 years of age.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 80 years in prison, a fine of $1,000,000.00 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 Jessica Lieber Smolar is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office and the Allegheny County 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.