PITTSBURGH, Pa. — A Shippenville man was sentenced to 21 years and 10 months in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for crimes related to the sexual exploitation of a minor, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced Thursday.
Thomas Joseph Manno, 41, received the sentence from United States District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand.
According to court documents, in June 2022, Manno engaged in online communications with an undercover law enforcement officer, during which he expressed interest in the sexual abuse of children. Authorities revealed that Manno sent the officer images depicting the sexual exploitation of minors, including an image that he had created.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Heidi M. Grogan, with the investigation conducted by the FBI, Pennsylvania State Police, and Montgomery County (Texas) Constable’s Office.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative launched in 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Manno’s sentencing underscores the DOJ’s efforts to combat the exploitation of children through national programs like Project Safe Childhood.