Pittsburgh Man Accused of Possessing Child Sexual Exploitation Images

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – In a stunning revelation, Kelly Eugene Jones, 39, of Allegheny County, has been indicted by a federal grand jury for possessing material depicting the sexual exploitation of minors, according to United States Attorney David J. Hickton.

The charge stems from an alleged incident on February 15, 2013, where Jones is said to have possessed images in computer graphics files that involved the use of minors in sexually explicit conduct.

Should Jones be found guilty, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. The actual sentence would depend on the severity of the offense and any prior criminal history.

Jessica Lieber Smolar, Assistant United States Attorney, is handling the prosecution for the government. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Allegheny County District Attorney Investigations Unit.

It’s important to note that an indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative aimed at combating child sexual exploitation. For more information on Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.

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