John Vincent Watson, a 48-year-old resident of Luzerne, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced to 90 years in prison for producing child pornography. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani in Scranton.
Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus stated that the offenses occurred between October 23 and 24, 2021, when Watson produced four videos and one still image of child pornography in Wilkes-Barre. The materials showed Watson engaging in sexual acts with a 14-year-old girl, posing her nude for the camera, and providing her with alcohol.
Edward V. Owens, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Philadelphia, remarked on the collaborative efforts leading to Watson's conviction: "Our hearts go out to the victim and the family for their harrowing ordeal. The sentence handed down to John Watson is a testament to the relentless efforts and dedication of the entire investigative team and we hope that it brings some comfort knowing that he cannot commit these crimes again." He highlighted the cooperation among HSI, the U.S. Marshals Service, Plains Township Police Department, Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General, and Luzerne County Detective’s Office as key to bringing Watson to justice.
The investigation involved multiple agencies including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Plains Township Police Department, Kingston Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police Computer Crime Lab, and Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jenny P. Roberts and Sean A. Camoni led the prosecution.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative started by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide by marshaling federal, state, and local resources.