Joseph J. Ostrowski of Pennsylvania recently was sentenced to serve 30 years in federal prison after being charged with cyberstalking MSU students and committing numerous child pornography felonies in Pennsylvania, according to a recent press release from the Detroit FBI.
The investigation began in 2011 after the MSU police became aware of the MSU students being cyberstalked. The Lansing FBI and MSU police worked together to execute a federal search warrant that eventually led to Ostrowski’s conviction.
In May 2012, the investigation succeeded in producing a federal search warrant for Ostrowski’s residence in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. This search resulted in the finding of evidence that Ostrowski was cyberstalking MSU students, and committed numerous child pornography felonies. He was charged in both the Western District of Michigan and in the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
Ostrowski was the head football coach of a local high school when he was arrested.
“The sentence of the court was warranted by Ostrowski’s malicious activities,” United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania Peter J. Smith said in an email. “Through the Internet he preyed upon unsuspecting young people at schools all over the country. The evil course of conduct was finally uncovered and brought to a halt in large part through the efforts of Michigan State and the FBI.”
Ostrowski pleaded guilty to both cases and was allowed to transfer the Michigan case to Pennsylvania for guilty plea and sentencing.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hagen W. Frank, who serves as the principal of the Identity Theft and Cybercrime Task Force of the U.S. Attorney’s office.
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