Imperial Woman Pleads Guilty to Distributing Sexual Images of Children

PITTSBURGH – A former Allegheny County resident pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court to a charge of distribution of material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

Kaitlin Plascjak, age 30, of Imperial, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty before Chief United States District Judge Joy Flowers Conti.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on May 5, 2016, Plascjak distributed images containing material depicting the sexual exploitation of minors.

Chief Judge Conti scheduled sentencing for August 31, 2018, at 11 a.m. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000.00, 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 Jessica Lieber Smolar is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office and the Allegheny County Police conducted the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Plascjak.

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.