A resident of Erie, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for distributing and attempting to distribute child sexual abuse material. The sentence will be followed by 10 years of supervised release. Michael Paul Ambrose, aged 44, was also ordered to pay $48,000 in restitution to seven identified victims. United States District Judge Susan Paradise Baxter imposed the sentence on January 10, 2025.
The conviction stems from activities that occurred around November 2022 when Ambrose distributed and attempted to distribute images depicting prepubescent minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan praised the efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Erie Police Department, and Erie County Detectives Bureau for their roles in investigating and successfully prosecuting Ambrose.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006. The project aims to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse through collaboration among federal, state, and local resources. It focuses on apprehending individuals who exploit children while identifying and rescuing victims.
For further information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.