Matthew Norman Ballek, 32, originally from Outlook, Saskatchewan, has pleaded guilty to a federal child pornography charge in the United States.
The former resident of Outlook, who was working as a financial risk specialist for the World Bank in Washington, D.C., was arrested in February 2024 after distributing child pornography to an undercover law enforcement agent. Ballek's connection to Outlook, Saskatchewan, was highlighted in the announcement of his plea deal. While Ballek had been living in Washington, D.C. for two years, his social media profiles revealed that he was originally from the Saskatchewan town. His LinkedIn profile also indicated previous employment at the Bank of Canada, demonstrating a connection to his Canadian roots.
The investigation, spearheaded by the FBI–MPD Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, began with an undercover agent monitoring an online dating application known to be used by individuals with a sexual interest in children. Ballek contacted the undercover agent and expressed an interest in child pornography, ultimately sending three videos depicting child sexual abuse.
Ballek's arrest led to the seizure of his phone, which contained numerous child pornography images and videos. The plea deal resulted in a guilty plea to one count of possession of child pornography. Ballek now faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, as well as mandatory restitution to victims.
In addition, a custodial sentence, Ballek must pay mandatory restitution of at least $3,000 to any identified victim. The statutory sentences for federal offenses are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, the DOJ cautioned in its media release, underlining that any sentence will be determined by the Court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
In addition, Ballek will be required to register as a sex offender and be subject to deportation proceedings and other adverse immigration consequences following any prison term.
The DOJ say this case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s 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 news of Ballek's conviction highlights the serious nature of online child pornography distribution and the global reach of law enforcement efforts to combat this crime. It also emphasizes the importance of recognizing the devastating impact of this crime on victims and the ongoing need to raise awareness about the risks and dangers associated with online child exploitation.