Union City Man Pleads to Child Porn Charge

ERIE, Pa. - A resident of Union City, Pennsylvania waived indictment and pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating federal laws relating to the sexual exploitation of children, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

Matthew Swanson, 30, 9988 Elgin Road, Union City, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge David S. Cercone.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that in and around August 2020, Swanson possessed computer images depicting prepubescent minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

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 (CEOS), 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.

Judge Cercone scheduled sentencing for July 12, 2021 at 1:30 p.m. The law provides for a total sentence of 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.

Pending sentencing, the court continued Swanson on bond.

Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Swanson.