CUMBERLAND COUNTY, Pa. (WHP) — A Shippensburg Police detective is facing federal charges after the Department of Justice said he bought child porn on the dark web using cryptocurrency.
Investigators said Matthew Pleisse, 36, was charged on May 6, but had his case initially sealed until his detention hearing.
It’s believed Pleisse either obtained, attempted to get, or had child pornography between July of 2024 and April of 2025, the DOJ said in a press release Tuesday.
The case was brought to the attention of officials as part of the Project Safe Childhood initiative to “combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse,” according to the DOJ.
Pleisse allegedly had a hard drive with an inappropriate photo of a child under the age of 12.
As to how Pleisse obtained child pornography, investigators said he purchased it on the dark web using cryptocurrency.
The dark web is typically described as a part of the Internet not easily accessible. While not everything on the dark web is criminal in nature, many use it to hide criminal actions.
“Homeland Security Investigations remains steadfast in its commitment to protecting vulnerable children and holding offenders accountable,” said HSI Philadelphia Acting Special Agent in Charge Nathan Abel.
On May 19, a federal judge ordered Pleisse be detained pending his trial.