Pediatric Oncologist Sentenced To Prison, Fined For Accessing Child Porn

COLUMBUS, OHIO -- Christopher Edward Pelloski, MD, 40, of Upper Arlington, Ohio, was sentenced to serve 12 months and one day in prison followed by five years of supervised release for accessing peer-to-peer file sharing networks to view digital images of child pornography involving pubescent and pre-pubescent children. He was also fined $10,000.

Carter M. Stewart, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Marlon V. Miller, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Franklin County Sheriff Zach Scott, Upper Arlington Police Chief Brian Quinn and members of the Franklin County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force announced the sentence handed down today by Senior U.S. District Judge James L. Graham.

According to court documents, investigators patrolling the internet in October 2012 and between March and July 2013 identified a computer at Pelloski’s residence on a peer to peer network with numerous child pornography files. The investigators executed a search warrant at Pelloski’s home on July 16, 2013 and seized numerous computers and digital media.  A forensic examination of one of the computers revealed evidence of approximately 85 images of child pornography, as well as evidence that various peer-to-peer programs had been installed on the computer.

Pelloski surrendered to federal officials on July 24, 2013 after a criminal complaint was filed against him. He has been on electronic monitoring since his arrest. Pelloski pleaded guilty on November 15, 2014 to one count of accessing child pornography.

“While the defendant may not have committed acts of sexual abuse or molestation himself, the hundreds of images and videos that he downloaded and viewed involved real children suffering real abuse,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Hill told the court. “The government believes that the position of trust and responsibility that the defendant was given in regards to young and vulnerable children heightens his culpability in this case.”

The Bureau of Prisons will determine a date for Pelloski to report and begin serving his sentence. He will remain on electronic monitoring until then. While he is on supervised release after serving his prison sentence, Pelloski will be required to register as a sex offender anywhere that he lives, works or goes to school.

Pelloski was a radiation oncologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, where he also held the title of Director of the Pediatric Radiation Oncology Program.

The Franklin County ICAC Task Force is a multi-agency effort dedicated to the fight against computer facilitated crimes against children. The following agencies are members:

Franklin County Sheriff’s Office                                 Upper Arlington Police Department
Grove City Police Department                                    Columbus Police Department
Grandview Heights Police Department                  Whitehall Police Department
Hilliard Police Department                                                           Westerville Police Department
Homeland Security Investigations                                            U.S. Secret Service
Ohio ICAC                                                                                            Franklin County Prosecutor's Office
Circleville Police Department

This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorney's Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children as well as to identify and rescue victims.

U.S. Attorney Stewart commended the HSI agents and other members of the ICAC Task Force for the cooperative investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Hill, who prosecuted the case. Stewart also acknowledged the assistance of the Ohio State University Police Department in the investigation.