For the Tomahawk Leader
MADISON – A Rhinelander man this week received a 25-year federal prison sentence for child sex trafficking.
The sentence, handed down by Senior District Judge William C. Griesbach on Wednesday, Sept. 21, was announced by United States Attorney Gregory J. Haanstad of the Eastern District of Wisconsin.
A release from the United States Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of Wisconsin said Paul S. Osterman, 36, had previously pled guilty to a federal charge sex trafficking of a child under the age of 14 years old.
“Osterman used social media applications and public Wi-Fi ‘hotspots’ to communicate with children, often requesting to exchange money for sexual acts,” the release stated. “In July 2019, Osterman travelled from his home in Rhinelander to the south side of Chicago, where he lured a minor with whom he had been communicating online into his vehicle. He then engaged in sexual acts with the child in exchange for money.”
Further investigation revealed that Osterman attempted or performed sexual acts with several minors throughout Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota, the release said.
At the sentencing hearing, Judge Griesbach noted the “horrendous nature of the crime and the strong need to deter Osterman from engaging in further abuse.”
“The judge noted that Osterman’s crimes were not made in haste and that Osterman had ‘committed despicable acts over a lengthy period of time,’” the release stated.
Upon the completion of his federal prison sentence, Osterman will serve the remainder of his life on supervised release. He will also be required to register as a sexual offender under state and federal law.
The case was investigated by the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Abbey M. Marzick and Daniel R. Humble.
The release said the case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by DOJ in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.
“Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims,” the release stated.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.