Shawn Kosinski, 34, of Pottstown, PA, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Wendy Beetlestone to 10 years of imprisonment followed by 15 years of supervised release, announced U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain. Kosinski pled guilty in January to distribution, possession, and receipt of child pornography.
During the course of this investigation, law enforcement officers determined that the defendant used an internet file sharing network called GigaTribe to distribute and receive child exploitation images and videos. Investigators uncovered 235 videos and 920 images on Kosinski’s computer equipment, including some depicting prepubescent children, bondage, and bestiality. Also uncovered were extensive online “chats" with other GigaTribe users with whom Kosinski communicated in order to distribute and receive child exploitation images and videos.
“My Office and the Department of Justice are committed to identifying the criminals who commit child sexual exploitation and making sure each pays a severe penalty," said U.S. Attorney McSwain. “Given the horrific nature of the offenses in this case, we believe the long prison sentence is absolutely justified and appropriate."
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 Attorney’s 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.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security/Homeland Security Investigations and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Jordan.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
