Wapakoneta Man Sentenced to 17 Years in Federal Prison on Child Sexual Abuse Material Charges

A 33-year-old Wapakoneta man has been sentenced to 17 years in federal prison on charges involving child sexual abuse material.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Ohio, Seth Jacob Schwerin was sentenced to 204 months in prison by U.S. District Judge James R. Knepp after pleading guilty to federal charges involving the receipt, distribution and transportation of child sexual abuse material.

Schwerin was also ordered to serve 15 years of supervised release following his prison sentence and pay $5,000 under the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act.

According to court documents, federal investigators began looking into the case after receiving a cybertip concerning child sexual abuse material uploaded to an online platform and distributed to an undercover agent.

Investigators subsequently identified Schwerin and executed a search warrant at his residence, where electronic devices were seized and examined.

Authorities determined that between approximately August 2021 and January 2025, Schwerin received, possessed, distributed and transported images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation of minors.

Investigators also discovered that some of the illegal activity occurred during Schwerin's working hours.

The investigation involved Homeland Security Investigations in Cleveland, the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Wapakoneta Police Department and the Auglaize County Sheriff's Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey Ballard Tangeman prosecuted the case.

The sentencing was announced Friday, October 23, as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide Justice Department initiative targeting child sexual exploitation and abuse.