John Mathew Piecuch, 64, told the victim he was a 13-year-old boy, then persuaded her to send sexually explicit images of herself.
RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — A Hemet man pleaded guilty July 26 in federal court after he was accused of catfishing a preteen girl he met on an online gaming platform.
John Mathew Piecuch, 64, pleaded guilty to one count of production of child pornography.
According to his plea agreement, Piecuch met a 12-year-old girl on Roblox, an online gaming platform. Piecuch told the victim he was a 13-year-old boy.
In January 2021, Piecuch and the girl texted each other, during which time he persuaded her to send him sexually explicit images of herself.
Piecuch also persuaded the child to take and send him sexually explicit photographs of a 5-year-old girl who was her relative.
The 12-year-old’s mother saw some of the text messages and called law enforcement. The FBI and the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office in Maryland investigated the case.
Piecuch has been in federal custody since August 2021.
“This defendant has admitted his despicable acts and now will face a significant prison sentence,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “I urge parents everywhere to be vigilant when it comes to their children’s online usage. Predators lurk in the shadows and use the internet’s cloak of anonymity to inflict life-long trauma.”
Piecuch faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison when he is sentenced Oct. 25.
