A former children’s physician who lived in both Chicago, Illinois, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced to four years in federal prison for possessing material depicting the sexual exploitation of minors. The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti.
Ashok Panigrahy, 54, received a sentence of 48 months’ imprisonment followed by 10 years of supervised release from United States District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand. In addition to his prison term, Panigrahy was ordered to pay a $25,000 fine and assessments totaling $22,000 under two federal victim assistance acts. He must also pay $10,000 in restitution to his minor victims.
Court documents state that between November 21 and November 22, 2022, Panigrahy knowingly possessed videos showing the sexual abuse of minors. At the time he committed these offenses, he worked as a children’s physician in the Western District of Pennsylvania.
The prosecution’s sentencing memo stated: “The nature and circumstances of the Defendant’s offense is extremely serious. While Panigrahy did not possess a vast collection of child sexual abuse material, the circumstances of Panigrahy’s possession demonstrated that he obtained his material through online conversations on an encrypted platform with other like-minded individuals. The child sexual abuse material Panigrahy saved was all video content, which is arguably more egregious, and included some depictions of very young victims, including toddlers and prepubescent minors being sexually abused. Such conduct is unacceptable, period. However, it is more reprehensible when it is committed clandestinely by an individual who is entrusted with caring for children and is given privileged access to a facility dedicated to helping and treating children. Thus, beyond victimizing the children whose depictions of sexual abuse he possessed, the Defendant’s conduct represents a disturbing betrayal of trust to our community of children and their families in the Western District of Pennsylvania.”
Assistant United States Attorney Heidi M. Grogan led the prosecution for this case.
Acting U.S. Attorney Rivetti acknowledged Homeland Security Investigations offices in Pittsburgh and Chicago for their role in investigating Panigrahy.
This prosecution falls under Project Safe Childhood—a Department of Justice initiative launched in May 2006 that coordinates efforts among federal prosecutors and law enforcement agencies nationwide to address child sexual exploitation crimes. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.justice.gov/psc.
