Mercer County Man Pleads to Child Sexual Exploitation Charges

PITTSBURGH - A resident of Greenville, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of Distribution and Possession of Material Depicting the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.

Alex Rogan-Laird, age 26, pleaded guilty to two counts before United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on March 14, 2020, Rogan-Laird distributed videos and still images over the "LiveMe" interactive software application depicting the sexual exploitation of prepubescent minors to an agent of the FBI working in an undercover capacity in Salt Lake City, Utah. The FBI further found Rogan-Laird in possession of thousands of sexually exploitive videos and images depicting children on July 15, 2020, at the time a federal search warrant was executed at his residence. Rogan-Laird admitted to viewing and distributing child pornography using "LiveMe" and similar software applications.

Judge Horan scheduled sentencing for February 16, 2022, at 1:30 p.m. The law provides for a total sentence of not less than five years nor more than 30 years in prison, a fine of $500,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Pending sentencing, the court released Rogan-Laird on bond.

Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Rogan-Laird.

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 sexu ally exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.