SCRANTON-The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Michael J. Costello, age 42, of Archbald, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on Oct. 25, 2017, by U.S. District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion to 12 years in prison for receiving and distributing child pornography in 2014.
According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Costello previously admitted to using a computer to obtain and trade images of child pornography during January through August 2014. Costello’s computer contained more than 1,100 images and more than 300 videos of child pornography.
Judge Mannion also ordered Costello to serve 10 years on supervised release following his prison sentence, and to pay restitution of $1,100. Costello must also undergo sex offender treatment and comply with sex offender notification and registration requirements.
The charge against Costello resulted from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Francis P. Sempa and Evan J. Gotlob prosecuted 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 www.usdoj.gov/psc For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
