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Press Release

Blair County Man Charged with Sextortion, Production of Material Depicting the Sexual Exploitation of Minors and Transferring Obscene Material

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Pennsylvania

PITTSBURGH - A Blair County resident has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of interstate transmission of an extortion communication, production and attempted production and receipt and attempted receipt of material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor, and transfer of obscene material to a minor, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

The 16-count Indictment, returned on July 8 and unsealed today, named Jacob Kolonis, age 27, of Duncansville, Pennsylvania, as the sole defendant.

According to the Indictment, in August of 2019, and on November 22, 2019, November 28, 2019, and February 5 through 7, 2020, Kolonis knowingly transmitted threatening communications to seven minor females with the intent to extort them. On November 22, 2019, November 28, 2019, and February 5 through 7, 2020, in addition to communicating threats with the intent to extort, Kolonis attempted to produce and produced live video depictions of the sexual exploitation of three of the minor females located in Ohio and in the Western District of Pennsylvania, attempted to receive and received material depicting their sexual exploitation, and transferred and attempted to transfer obscene material to them.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 15 years and not more than life in prison, a fine of $4,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Heidi M. Grogan is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General, and the South Fayette Township Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.

An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Updated July 20, 2020

Topic
Project Safe Childhood