⏱ 2 min read
A South Carolina man’s attempt to produce child pornography has landed him in federal prison for 17.5 years. Robert DiOrio, 36, of Summerville, thought he was chatting with a 14-year-old girl on Reddit, but it was actually an undercover law enforcement officer. The conversation turned sexual, and DiOrio asked to meet up, hoping for a sexual encounter. He arrived at the meeting location on June 15, 2026, where he was arrested.
DiOrio pleaded guilty on March 23, 2026, after being indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2024. His sentence includes five years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. He will also be required to register as a sex offender upon release from prison.
The case was part of an undercover operation to identify individuals seeking to have sex with minors and Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. The investigation involved Homeland Security Investigations, the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and local law enforcement agencies.
The sentencing took place in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier handed down the sentence. The outcome is a result of the collaborative effort between law enforcement agencies to protect children from sexual exploitation.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Sex Crimes
- Defendant: South Carolina
- Location: SD
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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