Monroe County Man Indicted With Child Exploitation Crimes

SCRANTON - The United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Christopher Mat Minnick, age 22, of Tannersville, Pennsylvania, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury on charges of production of child pornography, online enticement, transfer of obscene material to a minor, and receipt of child pornography.

According to Acting United States Attorney John Gurganus, the indictment alleges that Minnick used the internet and an electronic device to persuade and entice a minor to engage in sexual conduct and to produce child pornography. The indictment also alleges that Minnick transmitted obscene materials to four minors.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations-RAC Allentown and the Pocono Township Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Tatum R. Wilson is prosecuting the 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. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.usdoj.gov/psc.

The maximum penalty under federal law for the crimes charged in the Indictment is life imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

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