SCRANTON — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle), published as received.
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Louis Bradley Wetzel, age 41, of Howard, Pennsylvania, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Matthew W. Brann to 360 months in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release on charges related to the production of child pornography and online enticement of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity. Chief Judge Brann also ordered Wetzel to pay $50,000 in restitution to the victims.
According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, pursuant to an ongoing investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in Williamsport, Wetzel was found to be in possession of a trove of child sexual exploitation material during a search warrant conducted at his home in December of 2023. A forensic review of his digital devices revealed conversation between Wetzel and a 12-year-old minor in which he coerced the child to produce and distribute, to him, child pornography. Wetzel also purported, during chats, to have the ability to offer up children for sale to other adults to engage in sexual acts for money.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Luisa Honora Berti is 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.
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