Pediatric radiologist pleads guilty to child pornography charges

A former vice chair of radiology has pleaded guilty to being involved in the sexual exploitation of children, federal prosecutors announced on March 26. 

According to a release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Pennsylvania, Ashok Panigrahy, 53, who is a resident of both Pittsburgh and Chicago, is accused of knowingly possessing materials depicting child pornography in November 2022. Reports indicate that Panigrahy also attempted to transport these materials, which contained video footage of children under the age of 12, across state lines using his phone and laptop. 

Panigrahy, who previously served as vice chair of radiology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, was indicted in September 2024. On March 25, he entered a guilty plea before United States District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand. 

Formerly a highly respected radiologist, Panigrahy was placed on administrative leave by UPMC officials, but has since been terminated. Prior to being charged with child sex crimes, he was awarded for his work in pediatric radiology. 

The radiologist’s case falls under the umbrella of Project Safe Childhood, which was launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse in the U.S. Project Safe Childhood allocates federal, state and local resources track down and prosecute individuals involved in the sexual exploitation of children. 

Panigrahy is scheduled to be sentenced on July 17, 2025. He could face up to 20 years in prison, in addition to a fine of $250,000.00.