Defendant Admits to Producing Child Pornography, Interstate Extortion, and Cyber Stalking
In a shocking case of child exploitation, Joseph J. Ostrowski, a 29-year-old former football coach from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to producing child pornography, interstate extortion, and cyber stalking. The charges stem from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Scranton and Michigan, and the Michigan State University Police.
According to the plea agreement, Ostrowski will be sentenced to 25 years in prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release. The court has ordered a pre-sentence investigation to be completed, after which a date for sentencing will be scheduled.
The case against Ostrowski began with a Superseding Information filed in December 2012, charging that the former coach persuaded and enticed, and attempted to persuade and entice, minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct. He also used the internet to extort and attempt to extort additional nude photographs, images, and live transmissions of sexual conduct from his victims.
Ostrowski was indicted by a federal grand jury in Scranton in May 2012 and taken into custody. He was also indicted for cyber stalking by a federal grand jury in the Western District of Michigan, which was later transferred to the Middle District of Pennsylvania for prosecution.
The Government’s evidence presented at today’s hearing revealed that Ostrowski’s production and attempted production of child pornography, interstate extortion activities, and cyber stalking occurred during 2006 through May 2012, and involved victims in Pennsylvania, New York, North Carolina, California, Texas, Florida, New Jersey, Michigan, Ohio, Virginia, Minnesota, Indiana, Alabama, and Maryland.
Ostrowski admitted that he frequently posed as students, school alumni, and other persons, and used Facebook, Skype, e-mail, instant messaging, and cellular text messaging to commit the crimes. The case was brought 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.
Ostrowski’s charges resulted from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Scranton and Michigan, and the Michigan State University Police. The case highlights the need for continued vigilance and support for victims of child exploitation and abuse.
Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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