A Monaca, Pennsylvania resident has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for sexual exploitation of a minor and obstructing justice. Nicholas Sittig, aged 28, received the sentence from United States District Judge William S. Stickman IV on June 23, 2025.
The court was informed that between August 2023 and April 2024, Sittig coerced a minor in California to create sexually explicit content for his gratification. In December 2023, upon learning about an investigation by federal law enforcement officers, he persuaded the minor to destroy evidence related to these offenses. This included contact information and social media messages between them. Additionally, Homeland Security Investigations identified another minor in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania whom Sittig exploited online from December 2023 through March 2024.
Judge Stickman highlighted the gravity of Sittig’s actions and the impact on his victims before delivering the sentence.
Assistant United States Attorney Heidi M. Grogan prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti praised various agencies for their roles in investigating and prosecuting Sittig. These included Homeland Security Investigations—Pittsburgh, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (San Francisco and Pittsburgh), Pennsylvania State Police, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, and Monaca Police Department.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative started in May 2006 to address child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide.
