Jefferson Hills Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Child Pornography

PITTSBURGH – An Allegheny County resident has been sentenced in federal court to 14 years imprisonment, followed by 15 years of supervised release, on his conviction of distribution of child pornography, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

Senior United States District Judge Terrence F. McVerry imposed the sentence on Michael Canovali, 50, of Jefferson Hills, Pa.

According to information presented to the court, Canovali was detected distributing images of child pornography. Canovali’s sentence was enhanced because he was found to have engaged in a pattern of sexual activity involving an actual child victim.

Assistant United States Attorney Soo C. Song prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

U.S. Attorney Hickton commended the Indiana County District Attorney’s Office, together with Federal Bureau of Investigation for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Canovali.

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.