ERIE, Pa. – A resident of Erie, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Erie on charges of violating federal child sexual exploitation laws, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
The three-count Indictment named Michael Glenn Veenstra, 37, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, in January and February of 2026, Veenstra distributed and attempted to distribute material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor. During the same time, Veenstra was also in possession of and accessing with intent to view material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor.
As to the distribution charge, the law provides for a sentence of not less than five years and up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. For the possession charge, the law provides for a 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 would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and City of Erie Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment.
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 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.