PITTSBURGH, PA — On Wednesday, a federal jury found a Pittsburgh man guilty of possessing altered child sexual abuse material (CSAM) featuring child celebrities.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on two separate occasions, James Smelko, 56, of Pittsburgh, possessed pictures that digitally superimposed the faces of child actors onto nude bodies and bodies engaged in sex acts. During a search of Smelko’s residence in Pittsburgh, law enforcement discovered a collection of pictures that he possessed. These pictures were found on Smelko’s computer and were determined to be child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Subsequently, Smelko was charged for the possession of CSAM.
While awaiting trial, Smelko violated the conditions of his release by once again possessing such explicit images. This violation came to light when court-mandated monitoring software on his cell phone detected concerning searches and images.
Smelko has been found guilty by the jury on two counts of possessing child pornography. His sentencing is scheduled for March 28, 2024, and he could face a maximum of 40 years in prison. The final sentence will be determined by a federal district court judge who will consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case was investigated by the FBI Pittsburgh Field Office.
Assistant United States Attorney Michael Mitchell and Department of Justice Trial Attorney Gwendelynn Bills from the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) are handling the prosecution of the case.
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