Pittsburgh Man Charged with Distributing and Possessing Pornographic Images of Minors
| U.S. Attorney’s Office June 11, 2013 |
PITTSBURGH—An Allegheny County man 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, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
The three-count indictment named Christopher Malinak, 29, formerly of 1115 Prospect Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as the sole defendant.
According to the indictment, from on or about April 28, 2013 to on or about May 7, 2013, Malinak distributed images containing material depicting the sexual exploitation of minors to an individual located in Madison, Wisconsin. The indictment further alleges that on or about May 1, 2013, Malinak distributed images containing material depicting the sexual exploitation of minors to an individual in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Finally, the indictment alleges that on or about May 15, 2013, Malinakpossessed visual depictions, namely, images and videos in computer graphics files, the production of which involved the use of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 50 years in prison, a fine of $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 Jessica Lieber Smolar is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation; Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office; Lackawanna County Police Department; and Madison, Wisconsin Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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.