Canadian National Sentenced for Child Pornography Possession

WASHINGTON – Matthew Norman Ballek, 32, a resident of Saskatchewan, Canada, faced the U.S. District Court today for his despicable crime of possessing child pornography, receiving a 46-month federal prison sentence. The announcement came from U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

Ballek, who pleaded guilty on October 4, 2024, to one count of possession of child pornography, is also ordered by The Honorable Reggie B. Walton to serve six years of supervised release post-prison and register as a sex offender for 15 years. His future immigration status hangs in the balance with potential deportation proceedings looming.

Court records reveal that Ballek was caught after he reached out to an undercover FBI-MPD Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force member on an online dating app, expressing interest in child pornography. He sent three encrypted video files showing adult men raping a toddler and prepubescent boys. His arrest followed on February 7, 2024.

Upon seizure of Ballek’s phone, investigators found 10 unique videos and at least 21 still images of child exploitation. This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a DOJ initiative combating child sexual exploitation since May 2006. The task force worked tirelessly to uncover and bring justice to such predators.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen L. Shinskie prosecuted this matter, while the FBI Washington Field Office and MPD’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force conducted the investigation. This team includes FBI agents, federal agents, and detectives from northern Virginia and the District of Columbia, dedicated to combating child exploitation and human trafficking.

For more information on Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.

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