Pittsburgh Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Possessing and Distributing Child Pornography
A shocking case of child exploitation has come to light in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where a resident has been sentenced to 5 years in prison for distributing and possessing material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor.
According to information presented to the court, Adam D. Cadle, 37, had been using a group chat service, known as “Chatstep,” to distribute and receive images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation of minors, some of whom were under the age of 12 years.
On November 17, 2015, Cadle distributed 10 images of child pornography during one such chat session, which was later discovered by officers of the Pittsburgh Crimes Against Children Task Force during a search of his residence on November 1, 2017.
Cadle’s laptop computer and a SanDisk thumb drive were seized during the search, and forensic analysis revealed that he was chatting with minors and sharing sexually exploitive material.
U.S. District Judge Nora Barry Fischer imposed the sentence on Cadle, which includes 5 years in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release. In addition to the imposed terms, the court ordered Cadle to pay $1,000 in restitution to each of two minor victims.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch prosecuted this case on behalf of the government, which was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office, and the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General 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.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the severity of child exploitation and the importance of holding perpetrators accountable. Cadle’s sentence is a testament to the efforts of law enforcement agencies and the justice system in combating this heinous crime.
Cadle’s guilty plea and subsequent sentencing bring an end to a painful chapter for the victims and their families, who have endured unimaginable trauma as a result of Cadle’s actions.
The investigation and prosecution of this case highlight the critical role of Project Safe Childhood in identifying and rescuing victims of child exploitation and holding perpetrators accountable for their crimes.
Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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