Preston County, WV man sentenced to 15 years in prison for production of child pornography

WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Robert J. Gongloff, 26, of Terra Alta, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 180 months in prison after he admitted to producing child pornography, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced.

Gongloff, originally from Preston County and now a resident of Weirton, West Virginia, pled guilty in August 2015 to one count of “Production of Child Pornography.” By pleading guilty, Gongloff admitted that he had produced numerous images and videos depicting nude minors and minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

Authorities further discovered that Gongloff misrepresented his name and age on a website known as MeetMe.com, claiming to be 17 years old and using the name “Johnny Williamson,” in order to transmit sexually explicit photographs to multiple minor females.

"This conviction and sentence should serve as a stern warning about the consequences awaiting individuals who prey on the most vulnerable members of our communities - our children," said John Kelleghan, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations’ Philadelphia Field Office. "Protecting our children from predators remains an HSI priority, and we will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify, arrest and bring these predators to justice."

Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Vogrin prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations led the investigation with assistance from the West Virginia State Police

U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.