Ashok Panigrahy, a former chief radiologist at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, has pleaded guilty in federal court for knowingly possessing images and videos of child pornography.

On Tuesday, the Western District of Pennsylvania U.S. Attorney’s Office announced the guilty plea, which took place before U.S. District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand.

Panigrahy, 53, of Pittsburgh and Chicago, had initially pleaded not guilty in September before a federal magistrate in Pittsburgh, according to the Aug. 29 indictment by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh.

In September, U.S. District Magistrate Patricia Dodge ordered Panigrahy to undergo specialized treatment for those charged with sexual offenses and participate in any recommended mental health treatment.

UPMC had placed Panigrahy on administrative leave in November 2023 immediately after being informed by law enforcement of the investigation. His employment was subsequently terminated.

Panigrahy also was a professor at the University of Pittsburgh. A spokesperson for the university said in September that Panigrahy had been placed on administrative leave.

The child pornography incidents allegedly took place from Nov. 15-22 in 2022, prosecutors said, and the images could have been sent across state lines or from another country.

Prosecutors alleged in the indictment that Panigrahy had images and videos of sexual conduct of minors under the age of 12 in computer graphic and digital files while in Western Pennsylvania.

Wiegand scheduled Panigrahy’s sentencing for 1 p.m. July 17, when he will receive a total sentence of not more than 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both, the U.S. attorney’s office said. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and prior criminal history.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Heidi M. Grogan will prosecute the case.

The Homeland Security Investigations in Pittsburgh and Chicago conducted the investigation into Panigrahy, and assistant U.S. Attorney Heidi M. Grogan will prosecute the case.

Panigraphy’s case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, which is a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

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