PITTSBURGH, PA — A former resident of Perryopolis, PA, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges involving the sexual exploitation of minors, announced Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti.
Sean Ryan McKenzie, age 38, pleaded guilty to seven counts before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon on Friday, May 5, 2023.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on June 5, 2020, December 13, 2020, and June 8, 2021, McKenzie attempted to and did use, persuade, induce, entice, and coerce a minor known to him to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing any visual depiction of such conduct. McKenzie further admitted to sending some of the videos that he had surreptitiously created of this minor, as well as one other video depicting another minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct, to a Dropbox account. McKenzie also acknowledged that, while in the employ of the Pennsylvania State Police as a Corporal, he knowingly possessed videos and images of prepubescent minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
Judge Bissoon scheduled sentencing for August 31, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of life in prison, a fine of up to $1,750,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, McKenzie remains detained.
Assistant United States Attorney Heidi M. Grogan is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
Homeland Security Investigations – Pittsburgh and the Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of McKenzie.
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