Peshtigo Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

Press Release

Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on September 20, 2024, Zachary A. Zastawniak (age: 24) of Peshtigo, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 300 months in federal prison by Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach.

According to court records, Zastawniak pled guilty to knowingly persuading a minor to send him a sexually explicit video. In his plea agreement and at the sentencing hearing, Zastawniak acknowledged that he had victimized numerous minors in Oconto County and Northeast Wisconsin by employing coercive techniques to force them to engage in sexual activity. Much of the coercive activity was accomplished using various social media applications.

At the sentencing hearing, Judge Griesbach described the case as "horribly aggravated" and stated that Zastawniak repeatedly made "evil decisions" and engaged in "monstrous behavior." Judge Griesbach also noted the bravery and courage of the victims, many of whom spoke at sentencing, when cooperating with law enforcement and ending the defendant's criminal acts. Judge Griesbach also described Zastawniak's prior involvement in similar crimes as "quite frightening." Ultimately, the judge determined that a sentence of 300 months in federal prison was appropriate. Upon the completion of his federal prison sentence, the defendant will spend 25 years on supervised release. He will also have to register as a sex offender under state and federal law.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006, by the U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.

For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

This case was investigated by the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigations, the North Fond du Lac Police Department, Oconto Falls Police Department, Oconto Police Department, Oconto County Sheriff's Office, and the Kingsford, Michigan, Department of Public Safety. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.

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Updated September 20, 2024