Scrantons’ Child Porn Ring Leader Gets 16 Years

A 43-year-old Scranton resident has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for receiving and distributing child pornography, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced. Marc Accardi admitted to using a cell phone to download and distribute images of child pornography between March and May 2015 while on supervised release.

According to United States Attorney Peter Smith, Accardi pleaded guilty to the charge in June 2015. He was charged with violating conditions of his supervised release in connection with a prior criminal case. The charge against Accardi resulted from an investigation by the Department of Homeland Security.

U.S. District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion also ordered Accardi to pay $2,200 in restitution to victims of the child pornography offense. He must also serve 10 years on supervised release following his prison sentence, register as a sex offender, undergo sex offender treatment, and comply with sex offender registration requirements. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa.

The 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. 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.

Accardi’s sentencing is a significant step in the fight against child exploitation and abuse. It is a reminder that those who engage in this heinous crime will be held accountable. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania will continue to work tirelessly to protect our children and bring perpetrators to justice.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania thanks the Department of Homeland Security for their investigation and assistance in this case. We also commend the victim for their courage in coming forward and seeking justice.