A former children’s physician has been sentenced to four years in federal prison for possessing material depicting the sexual exploitation of minors, according to an announcement by Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti. The sentencing took place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Ashok Panigrahy, 54, who resided in both Chicago and Pittsburgh, was sentenced by United States District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand. In addition to 48 months of imprisonment, Panigrahy will be subject to 10 years of supervised release following his prison term. Judge Wiegand also ordered him to pay a $25,000 fine, a $17,000 assessment under the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018 (AVAA), a $5,000 assessment under the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act (JVTA), and $10,000 in restitution to his minor victims.
Court documents show that from November 21 through November 22, 2022, Panigrahy knowingly possessed video content depicting the sexual abuse of minors. At the time of these offenses, he was employed as a children’s physician in the Western District of Pennsylvania.
The prosecution’s Sentencing Memo stated: “The nature and circumstances of the Defendant’s offense is extremely serious. While Panigrahy did not possess a vast collection of child sexual abuse material, the circumstances of Panigrahy’s possession demonstrated that he obtained his material through online conversations on an encrypted platform with other like-minded individuals. The child sexual abuse material Panigrahy saved was all video content, which is arguably more egregious, and included some depictions of very young victims, including toddlers and prepubescent minors being sexually abused. Such conduct is unacceptable, period. However, it is more reprehensible when it is committed clandestinely by an individual who is entrusted with caring for children and is given privileged access to a facility dedicated to helping and treating children. Thus, beyond victimizing the children whose depictions of sexual abuse he possessed, the Defendant’s conduct represents a disturbing betrayal of trust to our community of children and their families in the Western District of Pennsylvania.”
Assistant United States Attorney Heidi M. Grogan led the prosecution for this case.
Acting United States Attorney Rivetti praised Homeland Security Investigations offices in Pittsburgh and Chicago for their work on this investigation.
This case falls under Project Safe Childhood—a Department of Justice initiative launched in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation by coordinating federal, state, and local resources to identify offenders and assist victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.justice.gov/psc.
