Illinois Man Sentenced To 36 Years For Transportation Of Child Pornography

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron has sentenced Michael Michalak (54) to 36 years and 8 months in federal prison for aiding and abetting the transportation of child pornography and distributing child pornography. The Court also ordered Michalak to forfeit two cellphones and a computer that had been used in furtherance of the commission of the offenses. He pleaded guilty on November 30, 2016.

According to court documents, Michalak used Facebook and other mobile applications to send links to images and videos child of pornography to an undercover FBI agent. During the sentencing hearing, the government presented evidence that Michalak had sexually assaulted children before the commission of this offense. The Court found that Michalak engaged in a pattern of activity involving the sexual exploitation of minors.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily C. L. Chang.

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.