Export Man Admits Threatening a Federal Agent and Possessing Child Pornography
| U.S. Attorney’s Office February 19, 2013 |
PITTSBURGH—A resident of Westmoreland County pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of threatening to murder, intimidate, interfere, or retaliate against a federal official and possession of material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
Todd Markley, 49, pleaded guilty to two counts before United States District Judge David S. Cercone.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on or about May 31, 2012, Markley threatened to assault and murder a United States postal inspector of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), with intent to impede, intimidate, interfere with, and retaliate against the postal inspector while she was engaged in her official duties. In addition, on or about April 12, 2012, Markley possessed visual depictions, namely, images in computer graphics files, the production of which involved the use of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
Judge Cercone scheduled sentencing for June 18, 2013, at 10:00 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $500,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the 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 Investigations and the United States Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Markley.