Farmington Resident Pleads Guilty to Distributing and Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Farmington, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of violating federal laws regarding the sexual exploitation of a minor, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

Nathan Fike, 41, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan.

In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on or about October 4, 2023, Fike distributed videos of minor children engaged in sexually explicit conduct to an undercover agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Further, on or about February 9, 2024, federal agents executing a search warrant at Fike's residence found the defendant in possession of videos and still images depicting the sexual exploitation of minors, some of whom were prepubescent and under 12 years of age.

Judge Horan scheduled sentencing for June 24, 2026. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than five years and up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney V. Joseph Sonson is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Fike.

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. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.