Local Man Charged with Child Pornography Offenses

HARRISBURG – In a disturbing case of child exploitation, Michael Rankin, a 34-year-old man from Lebanon, Pennsylvania, has been charged with serious crimes.

According to the indictment, Rankin induced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing images of that conduct between June 2021 and August 2021. He is also accused of distributing child pornography in August 2021 and possessing child pornography in October 2021.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carlo D. Marchioli is prosecuting the case.

Rankin’s charges include sexually exploiting children, distributing child pornography, and possessing child pornography. If convicted, the maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses is 60 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

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