A Clairton, Pennsylvania resident has pleaded guilty in federal court to charges related to the production of child sexual abuse material, according to an announcement from First Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti.
Joseph Primiero, 27, entered a guilty plea to Counts One and Five of the indictment before United States District Court Judge Mark R. Hornak. The court was informed that on January 24, 2022, Primiero produced images and a video depicting a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. He later produced additional images and videos involving another minor on June 27, 2022.
Sentencing is set for June 3, 2026. According to federal law, Primiero faces a minimum sentence of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, as well as a possible fine of up to $250,000 or both. The final sentence will be determined based on the seriousness of the offenses and any prior criminal history under federal sentencing guidelines.
Assistant United States Attorney V. Joseph Sonson is prosecuting the case. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Allegheny County Police Department.
This prosecution falls under Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse by coordinating efforts among federal, state, and local agencies. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.justice.gov/psc.
