A 20-year-old man from West Chester, Pennsylvania, will spend the next 15 years in federal prison after traveling halfway across the country to sexually abuse a child.
Zachary J. Vogt was sentenced on Monday, by U.S. District Court Judge Byron B. Conway in a Wisconsin courtroom, marking the end of a case that officials say highlights the persistent dangers of online grooming.
The case dates back to October 2024, when Vogt first made contact with a minor living in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. According to court records, the online messages quickly turned sexual.
While the child’s parents eventually discovered the digital trail and explicitly told Vogt to stay away, federal prosecutors say he ignored those warnings. In June 2025, Vogt drove from Pennsylvania to Wisconsin, where he met the victim, engaged in sexual abuse, and recorded the acts on his phone.
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Local police in Oshkosh led the investigation that ultimately uncovered the digital evidence and led to Vogt’s arrest.
During the sentencing hearing, Judge Conway emphasized the severity of the crime, noting that Vogt had a clear opportunity to stop his behavior after being confronted by the family but chose to escalate his actions instead. The judge pointed to a pressing need to protect the public and send a clear message to others who attempt to entice children through the internet.
“This defendant is clearly a sick and dangerous individual,” said U.S. Attorney Schimel. “He was given the chance to terminate his online sexually explicit activity with the child but ignored that warning and escalated his criminal conduct by crossing multiple states to sexually exploit the child. The only way to keep the community safe from him is to lock him up. The law enforcement community has no higher priority than to protect our kids, and if you harm them, we are coming for you.”
Once Vogt completes his 180-month prison term, he will not simply walk free. The court has ordered 15 years of supervised release and mandated that he register as a sex offender under both state and federal law for the rest of his life.
The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel R. Humble as part of Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative created specifically to pool local and federal resources to track down online predators and rescue victims.
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