SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that John Vincent Watson, age 47, of Luzerne, Pennsylvania, was convicted after a jury trial of production of child pornography.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the evidence at trial proved that between October 23 and 24, 2021, Watson produced four videos and one still image of child pornography in Wilkes-Barre. The videos and image showed Watson having sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old girl, posing her in the nude for the camera, and giving her alcohol. Following two days of testimony, the jury found Watson guilty on all counts after a deliberation of less than 30 minutes.
“One of HSI’s primary missions is to protect children from dangerous predators who seek to exploit them for their own greed or self-gratification,” said Special Agent in Charge of HSI Philadelphia William S. Walker. “Watson’s conviction sends a clear message that HSI and our partner agencies will devote every resource available to investigating, prosecuting and convicting those who prey upon our most vulnerable citizens.”
United States District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani has tentatively set sentencing for April 2024.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, Plains Township Police Department, Kingston Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police Computer Crime Lab, and the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jenny P. Roberts and Sean A. Camoni are prosecuting the case.
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.usdoj.gov/psc.
The maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses is 15 to 150 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
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