Ohio Man on Parole Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison For Possession and Distribution of Child Pornography

CLEVELAND – A Cuyahoga County man has been sentenced to prison for receiving and distributing sexually explicit photos of children while he was out on parole for an unrelated offense.

Christopher Galaszewski, 27, of Cleveland, has been sentenced to 184 months (approximately 15 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent after pleading guilty in May to distribution of visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and to possession of child pornography, also known as child sexual abuse materials (CSAM). Galaszewski was also ordered to serve 15 years of supervised release after imprisonment and to pay $10,000 in Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act (JVTA) assessments. After imprisonment, he will be required to register as a sex offender pursuant to the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).

According to court documents, from on or about June 23 to July 6, 2023, Galaszewski, while out on parole for an unrelated offense, knowingly distributed computer files that contained visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. At least one image involved a prepubescent minor who had not yet attained 12 years of age.

During the investigation, federal agents received a report that the defendant was sharing CSAM files through a popular social media platform. While on a check-in call with his parole officer, he indicated that he suspected that his email account had been hacked because it contained child pornography. The following day, Galaszewski’s parole officer seized his cellphone and laptop as permitted under the terms of parole. During the execution of a federal search warrant of defendant’s digital devices and online accounts, investigators found that they contained nearly 200 images and videos of CSAM.

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Margaret A. Kane.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative is led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices throughout the country and marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.

To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.org, or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.