Pittsburgh Man Pleads Guilty to Child Sex Trafficking

PITTSBURGH—A Pittsburgh man pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of sex trafficking of a child, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

William Miller, age 37, pleaded guilty to one count before Senior United States District Judge Donetta W. Ambrose.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that in and around January 2012 and on or about February 6, 2012, Miller employed, used, persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced a minor, Jane Doe, for the purpose of producing visual depictions of sexually explicit conduct, namely, a digital video and images. In addition, from in and around December 2011 to on or about February 10, 2012, Miller knowingly recruited, enticed, harbored, transported, provided, and obtained a minor, Jane Doe, to engage in a commercial sex act.

Judge Ambrose scheduled sentencing for March 27, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. The law provides for a total mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Pursuant to the defendant’s plea agreement with the government, Miller agreed to a sentence of 12 years’ imprisonment. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense 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 Investigation and the city of Pittsburgh Bureau of Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Miller.

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.