Pittsburgh Resident Pleads Guilty to Coercing Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity
PITTSBURGH, Pa. / Tuesday, September 22, 2026 - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court on September 21, 2026, to charges involving the sexual exploitation of a minor, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Luke Clements, 27, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge William S. Stickman IV to coercion and enticement of a minor and possession of material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, beginning on August 4, 2023, and continuing through November 3, 2023, Clements coerced a minor through text and social media communications to engage in illegal sexual activity. Clements demanded the minor send him images and videos of the sexual activity and offered the minor small payments in exchange. A search warrant executed at Clements’ residence resulted in the seizure of electronic devices, with Clements’ cell phone containing saved images and videos of the minor and revealing numerous other minor victims.
Judge Stickman scheduled sentencing for February 2, 2027. As to the coercion offense, the law provides for a maximum sentence of up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. As to the possession charge, the law provides for a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. The Court ordered Clements detained pending sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Clements.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Source: U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Pennsylvania
