Ohio County man admits to child pornography charge

WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Ryan Nicholas Wolf, of Wheeling, West Virginia, has admitted to child pornography possession, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.

Wolf, 34, pled guilty this week to one count of “Possession of Child Pornography.” Wolf admitted to having devices containing images and videos of child pornography in January 2021 in Ohio County. 

Wolf’s Wheeling Island home was searched in January. According to the complaint, the search found a thumb drive containing over a thousand images of what appeared to be juveniles. It does not appear as though any of the child pornographic material found in Wolf’s possession was locally produced and/or depicted children that he personally knew.

Wolf faces up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Perri is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Department of Homeland Security and Wheeling Police Department investigated. 

U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided.