Pittsburgh Man Pleads Guilty to Child Sexual Exploitation Charges

PITTSBURGH – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of Distribution and Receipt and Attempted Distribution and Receipt of Material Depicting the Sexual Exploitation of Minor, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.

David Saban, age 46, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on August 16, 2020, Saban knowingly distributed and attempted to distribute visual depictions, namely, videos in computer graphic and digital files, the production of which involved the use of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

Judge Bissoon scheduled sentencing for March 14, 2022 at 2:15 p.m. The law provides for a total sentence of not less than five (5) years and not more than twenty (20) years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense 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.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Saban.  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.