Peshtigo Man Charged with Sexual Exploitation of Minors

Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on January 23, 2024, a federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment alleging that Zachary A. Zastawniak (age: 23) of Peshtigo, Wisconsin, sexually exploited or attempted to sexually exploit two minors, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2251(a) and 2251(e).

According to the indictment, on or about July 7, 2023, and again on August 23, 2023, Zastawniak knowingly employed, used, persuaded, induced, and coerced two minors to "engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction … of [the victims] engaged in the lascivious exhibition of [the victims'] genitals." Zastawniak faces a mandatory 15 years' imprisonment and up to 30 years' imprisonment if convicted of either count. He may also be fined up to $250,000 on each count.

This case was investigated by the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation, the North Fond du Lac Police Department, Oconto Falls Police Department, Oconto Police Department, Oconto County Sheriff's Office, and the Kingsford, Michigan, Department of Public Safety. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006, by the U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.

For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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