Former UPMC Children's Hospital doctor sentenced on child porn charges

UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh’s former chief radiologist was sentenced Tuesday to four years in prison on child pornography charges.

Ashok Panigrahy, 54, of Pittsburgh, pleaded guilty in March to charges of transporting and attempted transportation of materials depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor and possession of material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor.

United States District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand ordered Panigrahy to pay a $25,000 fine and $10,000 in restitution to his minor victims, as well as a $17,000 assessment to the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Assistance Act of 2018. He was also ordered to pay a $5,000 assessment pursuant to the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, which is designed to combat human trafficking.

Panigrahy was also ordered to be placed on probation for 10 years after his prison sentence.

“The circumstances of Panigrahy’s possession demonstrated that he obtained his material through online conversations on an encrypted platform with other like-minded individuals,” a sentencing memorandum said.

Panigrahy’s sentencing memorandum was sealed because it contained personal background details, including child abuse, health issues, and drug addiction. The prosecution stated that the material depicted “very young victims, including toddlers and prepubescent minors being sexually abused.”

“However, it is more reprehensible when it is committed clandestinely by an individual who is entrusted with caring for children and is given privileged access to a facility dedicated to helping and treating children,” it said.

Panigrahy originally pleaded not guilty in front of a federal magistrate in August 2024.

Homeland Security in Pittsburgh and Chicago revealed Panigrahy had incriminating images and videos of minors under the age of 12, in computer graphic and digital files while in Western Pennsylvania.

UPMC placed him on administrative leave in November 2023 immediately after being informed by law enforcement of the investigation. He was later fired.

Panigrahy had also been a professor at the University of Pittsburgh.

Michael Engle, Panigrahy’s attorney, could not be reached for immediate comment on Monday.