Bridgeville Resident Charged with Producing and Distributing Material Sexually Exploiting a Minor

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Bridgeville, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of producing and distributing material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.

The 11-count Indictment named Matthew Trax, 24, as the sole defendant.

According to the Indictment, in and around various dates in November 2023 through December 2023, Trax used, enticed, and persuaded a 14-year old female to engage in sexually explicit conduct to create videos and images involving the minor. In addition to producing this sexually explicit content, Trax also distributed sexually explicit material involving the same minor female.

The law provides for a sentence of not less than 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Trax has been detained on state charges, and he remains detained pending trial.

Assistant United States Attorney Nicole A. Stockey is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Mt. Lebanon Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment.

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 (CEOS), 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.justice.gov/psc.

An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.