Michael Hochman, 52, of Warminster, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison and 10 years of supervised release for downloading and collecting thousands of images and videos depicting child sexual abuse. The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge Kelley Brisbon Hodge, according to an announcement from United States Attorney David Metcalf.
Hochman pleaded guilty in June to a charge of receipt of child pornography. His criminal history includes a 2002 conviction in Kansas for aggravated indecent liberties with a child. In that case, Hochman communicated online with a 13-year-old girl, persuaded her to produce sexually explicit images, traveled to Kansas, and engaged in sexual acts with the minor on multiple occasions.
The investigation into Hochman’s recent offenses was conducted by FBI Philadelphia’s Fort Washington Resident Agency. Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Rotella prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse. The project brings together federal, state, and local resources to find and prosecute individuals who exploit children online and to identify victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at project safe childhood website: https://www.justice.gov/psc.
“Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.” For further details about this initiative visit projectsafechildhood.gov.
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