Altoona Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child Pornography

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - A resident of Altoona, Pa., pleaded guilty in federal court in Johnstown to a charge of possession of child pornography, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

John F. Boslet, 53, pleaded guilty to the indictment before United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson.

In connection with the guilty plea, on Aug. 8, 2013, Boslet knowingly possessed images as computer graphic files containing child pornography, which had been shipped and transported in interstate or foreign commerce by means of a computer.

Judge Gibson scheduled sentencing for August 12, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Haines is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Department of Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Boslet.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.