A Hammond, Indiana man has been sentenced to more than 21 years in prison after being convicted of distributing and possessing child pornography. Michael Swiger, 41, received a sentence of 262 months in federal prison, a lifetime of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $49,000 in restitution to victims. The sentencing was handed down by United States District Court Judge Gretchen S. Lund following a three-day jury trial.
Court documents indicate that Swiger was found guilty of distributing videos containing child sexual abuse material via a social media application on April 4, 2022. He was also convicted of possessing similar material the following day.
“Today’s sentence stands as a warning to all those who believe distributing and collecting images and videos of the sexual abuse of children will be ignored or tolerated,” said Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor. “My office, in partnership with federal, state, and local agencies will aggressively investigate, prosecute, and seek restitution from anyone who victimizes the most vulnerable members of our community.”
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) played a central role in uncovering Swiger's activities. Matthew J. Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge at HSI Chicago stated: “This case demonstrates the unwavering commitment of Homeland Security Investigations to pursue justice for the most vulnerable members of our society—our children. What began as a narcotics investigation quickly revealed the defendant’s involvement in the heinous crime of child exploitation. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of HSI Minneapolis, HSI Chicago/Hammond, and our local law enforcement partners, we were able to uncover the full scope of the defendant’s criminal activities and bring him to justice. This conviction sends a clear message: HSI will relentlessly pursue those who exploit children and will use every resource available to ensure they are held accountable for their actions.”
The investigation involved multiple agencies including HSI offices in Chicago and St. Paul, as well as assistance from the Hammond Police Department and Indiana State Police Digital Forensics Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Emily A. Morgan, Caitlin M. Padula, and Thomas M. McGrath prosecuted the case.
The prosecution falls under Project Safe Childhood—a national initiative started by the Department of Justice in 2006 aimed at protecting children from exploitation by coordinating resources among federal prosecutors' offices along with state and local authorities (www.projectsafechildhood.gov).
