A Grove City resident has pleaded guilty in federal court to charges related to the sexual exploitation of minors, according to Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti.
Michael William Boston, 40, admitted guilt to one count before United States District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand. The court was informed that on October 25, 2022, Boston transported material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor across state lines. He also acknowledged transporting child sexual abuse material on specific dates in April and July 2023, as well as possessing more than 1,500 images and videos containing such material.
Judge Wiegand has scheduled sentencing for January 20, 2026. The statutory penalties include a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Sentencing will be determined by federal guidelines based on the severity of the offense and any prior criminal history.
Assistant United States Attorney Kelly M. Locher is handling the prosecution for the government. The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and the Pennsylvania State Police’s Northwest Computer Crime Unit.
The case falls under Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse. The project brings together federal, state, and local resources to prosecute offenders and assist victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.justice.gov/psc.
