Uniontown Woman Produced Child Pornography Then Shared It With Co-Worker

PITTSBURGH - A Fayette County resident pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of production of material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

Lisa A. Renze, 48, of Uniontown, Pa., pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that, on Jan. 30, 2010, Renze employed, used, persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced a minor under the age of 16 years to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing digital photographs of the conduct. The sexually explicit digital photographs taken on Jan. 30, 2010, and other occasions between 2009 and 2011, were then distributed by Renze to her friend and Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission co-worker, John Longo.

Judge Fischer scheduled sentencing for Aug. 1, 2014, at 9:30 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of not less than 15 and up to 30 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 defendant on bond.

Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The United States Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, with the assistance of the Pennsylvania State Police, conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Renze.

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.