Joseph J. Ostrowski went as far as pretending he was a woman while trolling the Internet to persuade children to send him naked pictures of themselves.
In federal court in Scranton on Thursday, the former varsity football coach at Holy Redeemer High School admitted prowling the Web and creating fake online identities to befriend kids across the country.
Sometimes he even threatened to disseminate their photos, images and live transmissions if they didn't send him more, federal prosecutors said. At times, he carried out the threat.
Facing a wide-ranging federal "sextortion" probe in at least 14 states , the 29-year-old Wilkes-Barre man, a standout football player at Meyers High School, pleaded guilty Thursday to charges of child pornography, interstate extortion and cyberstalking before Senior U.S. District Judge Edwin M. Kosik.
The admission is a reversal from his not guilty plea in federal court in May when he faced far fewer allegations.
The Diocese of Scranton suspended him and appointed a new head coach after federal agents arrested him in the school's weight room last year.
Mr. Ostrowski cloaked his identity by becoming either an older student or alumni who participated in the same sport as the victim, court records stated. He convinced the victims that turning over pornographic images "was part of some hazing ritual."
Some of the materials he received included the minors in various stages of undress and performing sexually explicit acts, like masturbation, Mr. Sempa said.
The FBI investigation revealed his "sextortion" lured children under 18 and also adults in Pennsylvania, New York, North Carolina, California, Texas, Florida, New Jersey, Michigan, Ohio, Virginia, Minnesota, Indiana, Alabama and Maryland from 2006 to 2012, court records stated.
U.S. Attorney Peter J. Smith, who sat through the proceeding, said the efforts of the Michigan State University police and FBI investigators in Michigan and Pennsylvania helped piece together the case.
"It was a great joint investigation," Mr. Smith said.
After listening to Mr. Sempa read the list of states where the victims lived, the judge asked one question, "anything else out of the U.S.?"
"No, your honor, not at this point," Mr. Sempa said.
Appearing in federal court in a green prison jumpsuit, Mr. Ostrowski answered the judge with short responses - "I do," "yes, your honor."
Then when asked if he committed the crimes, he replied, "guilty, your honor."
Prosecutors will recommend Mr. Ostrowski serve 25 years in federal prison. The judge is not bound by the recommendation. A sentencing date was not announced. He faces a maximum 37-year sentence.
"The evidence would have established all of the elements of the offenses charged beyond a reasonable doubt," Mr. Sempa said.
Mr. Ostrowski remains in federal custody.
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