A Hammond man, Michael Swiger, 41, has been sentenced to 262 months in federal prison following his conviction for distribution and possession of child pornography. The sentencing was delivered by United States District Court Judge Gretchen S. Lund after a three-day jury trial found Swiger guilty on both charges. Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor announced the outcome.
In addition to his prison term, Swiger received a lifetime of supervised release and was ordered to pay $49,000 in restitution to the victims involved in the offenses.
Court documents revealed that Swiger distributed videos containing child sexual abuse material via a social media application on April 4, 2022, and possessed similar material the following day.
“Today’s sentence stands as a warning to all those who believe distributing and collecting images and videos of the sexual abuse of children will be ignored or tolerated,” said Acting United States Attorney Proctor. “My office, in partnership with federal, state, and local agencies will aggressively investigate, prosecute, and seek restitution from anyone who victimizes the most vulnerable members of our community.”
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) played a central role in uncovering Swiger’s activities. Matthew J. Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge at HSI Chicago, stated: “This case demonstrates the unwavering commitment of Homeland Security Investigations to pursue justice for the most vulnerable members of our society—our children. What began as a narcotics investigation quickly revealed the defendant’s involvement in the heinous crime of child exploitation. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of HSI Minneapolis, HSI Chicago/Hammond, and our local law enforcement partners, we were able to uncover the full scope of the defendant’s criminal activities and bring him to justice. This conviction sends a clear message: HSI will relentlessly pursue those who exploit children and will use every resource available to ensure they are held accountable for their actions.”
The investigation included contributions from HSI offices in Chicago and St. Paul as well as support from the Hammond Police Department and Indiana State Police Digital Forensics Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Emily A. Morgan, Caitlin M. Padula, and Thomas M. McGrath prosecuted the case.
The prosecution was conducted under Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in 2006 aimed at protecting children from exploitation through coordinated efforts among federal, state, and local agencies. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
