The United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced Tuesday that Christopher J. Cordes, 31, of Nazareth, was sentenced on Friday, June 5, by U.S. District Judge Joseph F. Saporito Jr. to 330 months in prison, or 27½ years, followed by 10 years of supervised release.
Cordes pleaded guilty to charges including coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity, attempted receipt and possession of child pornography, production of child pornography, and creation of an animal crush video.
According to U.S. Attorney Brian D. Miller, the offenses occurred while Cordes was employed as a police officer with the Tamaqua Police Department during 2023 and 2024. Federal prosecutors said Cordes used social media to communicate with at least one minor victim and solicited the victim to create and send sexually explicit images and videos.
Authorities said Cordes also used social media to seek child pornography from others. In addition, prosecutors said he created and distributed a video depicting himself engaged in sexual activity with animals, sending it to at least one minor victim and other individuals. Investigators also found child pornography in his possession at the time of his arrest.
"As a former police officer, Cordes understood the trust our communities place in those who wear a badge, and violated that trust in the most disturbing way," said Nathan Abel, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations Philadelphia. "This sentence reflects the persistent work of HSI special agents and our partners at the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office and the U.S. Attorney's Office to uncover his conduct, support the victims, and ensure he will never again have the opportunity to exploit a child."
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday described the case as involving "truly disturbing conduct that has no place in a civilized society" and thanked federal authorities for their cooperation in bringing the case to a conclusion.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luisa Honora Berti prosecuted the case.
Information when Cordes was officially indicted:
https://www.skooknews.com/2024/10/former-tamaqua-police-officer-indicted.html
https://www.skooknews.com/2024/10/former-tamaqua-police-officer-indicted.html