(File Photo of a Gavel)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today that forty-five-year-old Ralph Talerico of Ross Township, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of violating federal laws regarding the sexual exploitation of minors. The Court was advised that, in and around June through July of 2023, Talerico produced videos of two minor children engaged in sexually explicit conduct in connection with the guilty plea. Talerico also possessed videos and still images depicting the sexual exploitation of minors, some of whom were prepubescent and under 12 years of age on or about June 6th, 2024. The sentencing for Talerico is on June 16th, 2026. According to Rivetti, Talerico could face a maximum total sentence of not less than 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, a fine of up to
$250,000, or both, provided by the law.