John Vincent Watson, a 48-year-old man from Luzerne, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced to 90 years in prison for producing child pornography. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani.
According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the incidents occurred between October 23 and 24, 2021. During this period, Watson produced four videos and one still image of child pornography in Wilkes-Barre. The materials depicted Watson engaging in sexual acts with a 14-year-old girl, posing her nude for the camera, and providing her with alcohol.
Special Agent in Charge of HSI Philadelphia Edward V. Owens stated: "Our hearts go out to the victim and the family for their harrowing ordeal. The sentence handed down to John Watson is a testament to the relentless efforts and dedication of the entire investigative team and we hope that it brings some comfort knowing that he cannot commit these crimes again."
Owens highlighted the collaboration among various agencies including HSI, the U.S. Marshals Service, Plains Township Police Department, Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General, and Luzerne County Detective’s Office as crucial in bringing Watson to justice.
The investigation involved several law enforcement bodies such as Homeland Security Investigations, Plains Township Police Department, Kingston Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police Computer Crime Lab, and Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jenny P. Roberts and Sean A. Camoni prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide. This project mobilizes resources across federal, state, and local levels to locate offenders who exploit children while rescuing victims.
