Goose Creek Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Producing Child Sexual Abuse Materials

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Michele Mancino a/k/a "Mike Mancino," 41, of Goose Creek, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to production of child pornography.*

Evidence presented to the court showed that in late 2022, Mancino was engaging other pedophiles on the Scruff and Telegram apps in sexually explicit discussions about his grooming and sexual abuse of a 4-year-old. A search of Mancino's accounts and devices revealed images and videos of child sexual abuse materials depicting Mancino and the 4-year-old discussed in the chats. Mancino also possessed and traded images and videos of child sexual abuse materials of other prepubescent minors as young as infants. During the investigation, Mancino confessed to creating child sexual abuse material by documenting his abuse of the 4-year-old and he also confessed to trading child sexual abuse materials with other pedophiles.

"This sentencing reflects our unwavering commitment to protecting the most vulnerable among us," said Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. "We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to relentlessly pursue those who exploit the innocence of children."

"Protecting children from exploitation is one of HSI's top investigative priorities and this sentence is a testament to our commitment to stopping these horrific offenses," said Cardell T. Morant, special agent in charge of HSI Charlotte that covers North and South Carolina. "HSI along with its partners will use every resource available to find, arrest and hold accountable predators, like Mancino, that seek to victimize our most vulnerable population."

United States District Judge Richard Gergel sentenced Mancino to 360 months imprisonment, to be followed by a lifetime of court-ordered supervision. This is the maximum sentence allowed under the statute. There is no parole in the federal system. Mancino was also ordered to pay restitution to the victims of his crimes and to pay an assessment into the Trafficking Victims' Fund.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.

This case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katie Orville is prosecuting the case.

###

NOTE: While the current federal statutes still contain the term "child pornography," experts in the field now recognize "child sexual abuse materials" as the more accurate terminology.