PITTSBURGH MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO COERCING MINOR INTO SEXUAL ACTIVITY AND POSSESSING CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE MATERIAL

PITTSBURGH, Pa. — A Pittsburgh man has pleaded guilty in federal court to coercing a minor into illegal sexual activity and possessing material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor after investigators recovered images and videos from his electronic devices.

Luke Clements, 27, pleaded guilty on September 21 before U.S. District Judge William S. Stickman IV to coercion and enticement of a minor and possession of material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor. His guilty plea establishes criminal responsibility for both federal offenses.

According to information presented to the court, Clements began communicating with a minor on August 4, 2023, and continued through November 3, 2023. During that period, he used text messaging and social media to coerce the minor into engaging in illegal sexual activity.

Clements also demanded that the minor send him images and videos documenting the sexual activity and offered small payments in exchange.

The case developed further after law enforcement executed a search warrant at Clements’ residence and seized electronic devices. Investigators found saved images and videos of the minor on Clements’ cell phone and identified evidence involving numerous additional minor victims.

The discovery of additional minor victims through evidence recovered from Clements’ phone is one of the most consequential elements of the case.

Digital evidence can become central in child-exploitation prosecutions because communications, stored media, social-media records, device data, cloud accounts, and payment information can establish how contact began, how coercion developed, what material was created or retained, and whether additional victims may have been targeted.

Clements’ case involved both coercive communications and possession of sexual-abuse material recovered from his device.

The coercion and enticement offense carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

The possession charge carries a separate statutory maximum of up to 10 years in federal prison.

Both offenses also allow fines of up to $250,000.

Judge Stickman scheduled sentencing for February 2, 2027. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the sentence will be based on the seriousness of the offenses and Clements’ prior criminal history, if any.

Clements will remain detained while awaiting sentencing.

The FBI conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch is prosecuting the case on behalf of the federal government.

The case is part of Project Safe Childhood, the Justice Department’s nationwide initiative focused on child sexual exploitation and abuse.

Project Safe Childhood was launched in 2006 and brings together U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, the FBI, state and local law enforcement, and other investigative partners to locate offenders, identify victims, and prosecute crimes involving the sexual exploitation of children.

When investigators seize a device in a child-exploitation investigation, a single known victim can lead to evidence involving other children who had not yet been identified by law enforcement. That can expand the scope of the investigation and create additional responsibilities involving victim identification and preservation of evidence.

In Clements’ case, the federal guilty plea resolves the charged conduct involving coercion and possession, while sentencing remains pending.

He now faces the possibility of a life sentence on the coercion and enticement count and up to 10 years on the possession count.

Sentencing is scheduled for February 2, 2027, before Judge Stickman in federal court in Pittsburgh.

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