Western District of Pennsylvania | Clairton resident charged with 19 counts of sexual exploitation of minors

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A Clairton, Pennsylvania, resident has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of sexual exploitation of minors, U.S. Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.

The 19-count indictment named Joseph Primiero, 26, as the only suspect.

According to the indictment, on January 22, 2022, and between June 13, 2022, and June 28, 2022, Primiero produced material that depicted the sexual exploitation of minors. During that same time period, Primiero allegedly coerced and enticed a minor to engage in sexual activity, received and distributed material that depicted the sexual exploitation of minors, and transmitted obscene images and videos of himself to a minor while engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Additionally, Primiero is accused of possessing material that depicted the sexual exploitation of prepubescent minors and minors under the age of 12 on May 22, 2024.

The law provides for a maximum total penalty of up to life in prison, a fine of up to $4.75 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based on the seriousness of the offenses and the defendant’s prior criminal history, if any.

Deputy District Attorney V. Joseph Sonson is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The investigation that led to the indictment was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Allegheny County Police Department.

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 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Abuse and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to investigate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.

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