Pittsburgh Man Charged with Attempted Coercion of a Minor for Sex
A resident of Pittsburgh, PA, has been indicted on a charge of violating federal child exploitation laws. United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today that Thomas A. Yocum, Jr., a 34-year-old man from the City’s Summer Hill neighborhood, has been named in a one-count Indictment.
According to the Indictment, from September 13, 2022, until September 18, 2022, Yocum allegedly used cellular telephone networks and the internet to knowingly attempt to persuade, induce, entice, or coerce an individual who had not attained the age of 18 to engage in unlawful sexual activity.
The law provides for a minimum total sentence of 10 years in prison, up to a term of life, a fine of $250,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Robert C. Schupansky is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
This 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. 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.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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