A former radiologist at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh has entered a guilty plea concerning child pornography charges, according to federal prosecutors. Ashok Panigrahy, who is 53 years old, admitted to possessing child sexual abuse material in court yesterday. The troubling developments come after a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh indicted Panigrahy last September, as reported by TribLIVE.

UPMC, learning of the investigation into Panigrahy's activities, immediately placed him on administrative leave in November 2023 before terminating his employment. Having held the position of chief radiologist and serving as a professor at the University of Pittsburgh, his fall has been swift and steep. In court, the doctor faced allegations that he had images and videos depicting sexual exploitation of minors under the age of 12, some of which occurred on Nov. 21 and 22, 2022, as affirmed by WPXI.

Prosecutors have not shied away from the gravity of the charges against Panigrahy. In a statement reported by CBS Pittsburgh, Acting U.S. Attorney Troy Rivetti detailed the nature of the material Panigrahy possessed. Rivetti explained that the "images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor" are part of a larger narrative that places Panigrahy squarely within the jurisdiction of serious federal crimes.

Scheduled for July 17, Panigrahy's sentencing could see him facing a maximum of 20 years in prison, along with a $250,000 fine, or both. The Homeland Security Investigations in Pittsburgh and Chicago led the inquiry, culminating in his guilty plea.