The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jesse Diaz, 53, of Sciota, Monroe County, was charged in a criminal information with a child exploitation crime involving accessing and viewing child pornography.

Diaz is charged with using his Kik messenger account to access a private chat group dedicated to the distribution and sharing of child pornography with the intent to view minors, including a minor under the age of 12 years old, engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

The charges stem from an investigation conducted by the Department of Homeland

Security, Homeland Security Investigations – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Portland, Oregon

divisions.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Olshefski.

The maximum penalty under federal law is 20 years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the federal sentencing guidelines, the judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant’s educational, vocational and medical needs.