A Southern California man was sentenced to over 15 years in prison for producing sexually explicit images of young girls he met online.

John Matthew Piecuch, 64, of Hemet, was sentenced to 188 months in federal prison, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Friday.

Pieuch met the victim, a 12-year-old-girl, on Roblox, an online gaming platform. He falsely told the girl that he was a 13-year-old boy.

In January 2021, Piecuch began texting the girl and eventually persuaded her to send him sexually explicit images of herself. He also convinced her to take sexually explicit photos of a 5-year-old girl who was her relative, prosecutors said.

The 12-year-old’s mother eventually saw some of the text messages between her daughter and Piecuch on the girl’s phone and immediately contacted law enforcement.

In August 2021, Piecuch was taken into custody. In July 2024, he pleaded guilty to one count of production of child pornography.

“Online games and platforms can allow child predators to hide behind fake identities and lure children into sharing private information,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph McNally. “It is critical that we hold these predators accountable and convey a message of zero tolerance for those who prey on our youth. I also urge parents everywhere to monitor their children’s online activity to ensure their health and safety.”

Once he completes his over 15-year prison sentence, Piecuch will remain on supervised release for the rest of his life, officials said.

The case was investigated by the FBI in conjunction with the Carroll County (Maryland) Sheriff’s Office.