A federal grand jury has indicted Michael Joseph Pusateri, a 59-year-old softball coach from Nottingham, Maryland, on charges related to child sexual abuse. The indictment alleges that between April and August 2025, Pusateri sent sexually explicit messages to a minor and later engaged in a physical sexual relationship with the victim. He is accused of arranging meetings with the minor at local business parking lots for sex acts, grooming the victim through text messages, coercing the child into sending sexual images, and sending explicit photos of himself.
Law enforcement seized Pusateri’s phone and found over 400 calls between him and the minor from March 21 to July 25, 2025.
The announcement was made by Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland; Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul of the FBI Baltimore Field Office; Baltimore County State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger; and Chief Robert McCullough of the Baltimore County Police Department.
"This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit justice.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit justice.gov/psc and click on the 'Resources' tab on the left of the page," according to officials.
Pusateri faces several charges: production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), coercion and enticement, receipt of CSAM, and possession of CSAM. If convicted on all counts he could face a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years up to a maximum of 30 years for CSAM production; between 10 years to life for coercion and enticement; as well as up to 10 years for possession.
Authorities note that indictments are not findings of guilt—those charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. Sentences handed down in federal cases are typically less than statutory maximums due to judicial consideration under U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended law enforcement agencies involved in investigating this case as well as Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Elizabeth McGuinn who is prosecuting it.
Further details about community resources or office priorities can be found at www.justice.gov/usao-md or https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
