A federal grand jury in Erie has indicted a 37-year-old Erie resident on multiple federal charges related to the alleged distribution and possession of illegal child exploitation material, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The indictment names Michael Glenn Veenstra as the sole defendant. Prosecutors allege that in January and February 2026, Veenstra distributed and attempted to distribute prohibited material and also possessed and accessed such material with the intent to view it.
Federal officials said the distribution charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of 20 years, along with possible fines.
The possession charge carries a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison and additional fines. Any sentence would ultimately be determined by a federal judge under applicable sentencing guidelines and other legal factors.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian A. Trabold. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the City of Erie Police Department.
Federal authorities said the case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative aimed at combating the exploitation of children and identifying offenders who use the internet to commit such crimes.