PITTSBURGH - A former resident of Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, has pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of interstate transportation of a minor for purpose of engaging in unlawful sexual activity, Acting United States Attorney Soo C. Song announced today.
David Michael Monrean, 24, of New Castle, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak.
In connection with the guilty plea, from Aug. 14, 2016, to Aug. 16, 2016, Monrean did knowingly and willfully transport or arrange, induce, procure, or facilitate the travel of Minor A, who had not attained the age of 18 years, in interstate commerce, from Pennsylvania to Ohio, with the intent that Minor A would engage in prostitution and other sexual activity for which a person could be charged with a criminal offense, and aided and abetted such conduct.
United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak scheduled sentencing for Feb. 14, 2018 at 9:30 a.m. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of life imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, and a term of supervised release of not more than five years, or any or all. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Lieber Smolar is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Grove City Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Monrean.
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 Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's 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.justice.gov/psc.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
