Johnstown Man Produced Sexually Explicit Images Of Children

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - A resident of Johnstown, Pa., pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of producing child pornography, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

Stephen J. Goniea, 47, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that from 2008 to August 2011, Goniea produced visual depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct using materials that had been mailed, shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce.

Judge Gibson scheduled sentencing for Sept. 3, 2013, at 9:30 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of 30 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. 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 John J. Valkovci, Jr., is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Southwest Computer Crime Task Force of the Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Goniea.

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.