A Bradford County man has been sentenced to 292 months in federal prison for producing child pornography. Benjamin Wheeler, 29, was sentenced on April 15, 2025, by Chief United States District Judge Matthew W. Brann. Following his prison term, Wheeler will be subject to ten years of supervised release.
Investigations revealed that Wheeler coerced two minors to engage in sexually explicit acts, which he filmed on four occasions in June and July 2022 in Bradford County. These details were provided by Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus.
Assistant United States Attorney Alisan V. Martin played a key role in the prosecution of the case. During the proceedings, Martin read a statement from one of the victim's mothers. She described the significant impact the incident had on her child and family.
The case involved investigations by the Pennsylvania State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice. Launched in 2006, the project aims to combat child sexual exploitation by bringing together federal, state, and local resources to apprehend offenders and rescue victims. Additional information about Project Safe Childhood is available at www.usdoj.gov/psc.