PITTSBURGH, PA – A resident of Lowell, Michigan pleaded guilty in federal court to charges related to the sexual exploitation of minors, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Frank Davis, age 30, pleaded guilty to three counts before United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on August 9, 2022, Davis induced a minor during an online chat to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing any visual depiction of the conduct and to send the sexually explicit material to Davis. On the same date, Davis knowingly received videos of the minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct. On August 18, 2022, as well as on other dates in August 2022, Davis sent to the minor obscene videos depicting himself engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Judge Schwab scheduled sentencing for April 16, 2024, at 8:45 a.m. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 15 years and up to 60 years in prison, a fine of $750,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, Davis remains detained.
Assistant United States Attorney Heidi M. Grogan is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
Homeland Security Investigations-Pittsburgh, the Pennsylvania State Police, Homeland Security Investigations-Grand Rapids (Michigan), and the Lowell Police Department (Michigan) conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Davis.
This case was brought as 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 Attorneys’ 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 www.justice.gov/psc.