(LEETONIA, Ohio) -- Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced today the arrest of a Leetonia man on ten felony charges of pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor.
Lucas Ippolito, 41, was taken into custody this afternoon after authorities with the Attorney General's Crimes Against Children Unit and Leetonia Police Department served a search warrant at his Sleepy Hollow Drive home. Agents removed multiple computers and other digital media storage devices from the scene.
Authorities began investigating Ippolito in January 2015 after receiving information that he was allegedly downloading and disseminating child pornography.
The Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force assisted in the investigation, which is ongoing.
Attorney General DeWine created the Crimes Against Children Unit, which is part of the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, in 2011. The unit assists law enforcement agencies throughout the state to investigate cases involving juvenile victims. In 2014, the unit worked 150 cases in 46 Ohio counties, executed 24 search warrants, and made 19 arrests.
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Media Contacts:
Dan Tierney: 614-466-3840
Jill Del Greco: 614-466-3840