Pennsylvania man sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment for receiving child pornography

SCRANTON, Pa. — On Feb. 5, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, announced a West Hazleton, Pennsylvania man, was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment for receiving child pornography, following a joint investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Philadelphia and the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office investigation.

Michael Portanova, age 28, admitted that he used his cell phone to receive images and videos of child pornography, using a file-sharing network on the internet between August 2017 and Oct. 30, 2017, in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.

Portanova was previously convicted of dissemination and possession of child pornography in Luzerne County in 2014.

He was ordered to serve 10 years on supervised release following his prison sentence, pay a special assessment of $5,100, comply with the restrictions of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, and receive sex offender treatment.

This investigation was conducted under HSI’s Operation Predator, an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators. Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 19,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child exploitation material, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children. In fiscal year 2018, more than 3,000 (3,191) child predators were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative and more than 850 (859) victims identified or rescued.

HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196.

Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.

HSI is a founding member of the Virtual Global Taskforce, an international alliance of law enforcement agencies and private industry sector partners working together to prevent and deter online child sexual abuse.