Irvin Randall Newswanger, Child Pornography Distribution, PA 2017

Irvin Randall Newswanger, 48, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, was indicted January 12, 2017, on federal charges of possession and distribution of child pornography. The announcement came from Acting United States Attorney Louis D. Lappen, who confirmed the charges were unsealed as part of an ongoing crackdown on online child exploitation.

If convicted, Newswanger faces a maximum of 40 years in prison, a mandatory minimum of 5 years, lifetime supervised release, a $500,000 fine, and a $200 special assessment. The severity of the sentence reflects the federal government’s aggressive stance on crimes involving the sexual abuse and exploitation of children.

The case falls under Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative launched in May 2006 to combat the rising tide of child sexual exploitation. Spearheaded by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), the program unites federal, state, and local forces to track down offenders, dismantle networks, and rescue victims.

According to authorities, Newswanger’s alleged crimes were uncovered through digital forensics and online surveillance conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Investigators traced the distribution of illicit material back to his Lancaster residence, where evidence was seized during a court-authorized search.

Assistant United States Attorney Roberta Benjamin is prosecuting the case, which underscores the federal commitment to holding accountable those who produce, share, or hoard child pornography. The FBI’s involvement highlights the cross-jurisdictional reach of cyber-facilitated sex crimes and the resources deployed to stop them.

An indictment is not a conviction. Irvin Randall Newswanger is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. For more information on Project Safe Childhood, visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

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