Pennsylvania man pleads guilty to sexual exploitation of minor in Ohio

A Pennsylvania man, Soumya Rudra, 41, has entered a guilty plea to charges of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor after driving across state lines and possession of child sexual abuse material, according to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio. Rudra, of Whitehall, connected with a 14-year-old through a dating game app called “Kiss Kiss” and continued their communication via Snapchat with messages and video calls over several months.

In November 2023, Rudra traveled over 400 miles to Ohio, where he met the minor victim and took her to a hotel. There, he engaged in criminal sexual activity. The hotel itself became a silent witness to the violation of innocence. As part of the investigation, law enforcement found CSAM on Rudra’s devices, which included other minors, during their search of the hotel room. Rudra’s sentencing is scheduled for December 11th and could carry a maximum sentence of 30 years.

Investigative efforts that led to the charges and guilty plea were a joint effort between the FBI’s Canton Field Office and the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, with Assistant District Attorney Toni Beth Schnellinger Feisthamel leading the prosecution. With the rise of such predatory acts, authorities stress the importance of reporting suspected child exploitation through official channels such as cybertipline.org or the 24/7 hotline at 1-800-843-5678.

Further developments in Rudra’s case will be closely watched as the court hearing approaches, with the legal process revealing the balance between the seriousness of the crime and the degree of justice meted out. This case is another grim pattern in the tapestry of online platforms being abused to target the vulnerable. Those with information about potential child exploitation are urged to come forward and assist law enforcement in ensuring the welfare of young people.