Matthew A. Bugielski, a 26-year-old resident of Lake Station, Indiana, has been sentenced to 360 months in prison after pleading guilty to charges related to the sexual exploitation of children. United States District Court Judge Gretchen S. Lund handed down the sentence, which also includes 15 years of supervised release and restitution payments to the victim.
According to court documents, Bugielski was involved in producing sexually explicit images of a minor on or around June 19, 2023. He used and induced the minor to engage in such conduct for visual depiction purposes. Additionally, Bugielski distributed these images over the internet. On separate occasions, he distributed other child sexual abuse materials online.
The investigation into Bugielski's activities was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations with support from various local law enforcement agencies including the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and several police departments across Indiana. Assistant United States Attorney Emily Morgan prosecuted the case.
This case falls under Project Safe Childhood, an initiative established by the Department of Justice in 2006 aimed at combating child exploitation and abuse nationwide. The program involves federal, state, and local resources working together to apprehend offenders and rescue victims. Further details about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.projectsafechildhood.gov.