Irish citizen indicted for sadistic exploitation of a child

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - A 36-year-old Irish national has been charged with four counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and four counts of coercion and enticement of a child, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

The charges allege in September 2022, Matthew Liam Johnstone coerced a minor into filming and photographing herself engaging in sexually explicit conduct including acts of sadism.

If convicted, Johnstone faces up to life in prison. All charges also carry a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

The FBI’s Child Exploitation Operational Unit - Criminal Investigative Division conducted the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Overman and Trial Attorney Adam Braskich of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) are prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's CEOS leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.

An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.