Philadelphia Man Gets 36-Year Sentence for Child Exploitation

A Harrowing Case of Child Exploitation and Abuse

A Philadelphia man has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term after being found guilty of extensive child sexual exploitation and child pornography offenses. Joshua Lang, 37, received a 430-month sentence from U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Savage, along with lifetime supervised release. Additionally, he was ordered to pay $23,545 in restitution and $14,300 in special assessments.

The investigation into Lang began in July 2023 following his purchase of child pornography from a 13-year-old girl on Instagram in December 2022. This led to a collaboration between the Philadelphia Police Special Victims Unit and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), which executed a state search warrant at Lang’s residence in Mayfair, where he lived with another suspect, Kenneth Miller.

During the search, investigators uncovered evidence that Lang and Miller's activities extended far beyond online interactions. They were involved in hands-on sexual abuse of children and had created, traded, and collected videos and images of one of their victims, as well as the victim’s siblings and friends. Both Lang and Miller were arrested on the same day of the raid.

In February 2024, a federal grand jury returned a 16-count indictment against Lang and Miller. The charges included conspiracy to manufacture child pornography, six counts of manufacturing and aiding and abetting the manufacture of child pornography. Lang faced additional charges, including three counts of manufacturing and attempting to manufacture child pornography, and three counts of receiving child pornography.

Kenneth Miller was sentenced in September 2024 to 400 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Over a three-year period, Lang and Miller sexually abused a minor between the ages of 12 and 14, recording videos of the acts to preserve the abuse. They also installed hidden cameras in their bathroom and attempted to create sexually explicit images of at least five children aged nine to 17 who used the facility.

Throughout this time, Lang and Miller discussed their sexual interests in children, strategized ways to groom minors for abuse, and carried out these tactics to gain the trust of the victims. They regularly traded and discussed the images and videos they created of the children.

Lang was also involved in hands-on sexual abuse of an 8-9-year-old child, sharing the videos with Miller. He kept a collection of over 13,000 unique files of child sexual abuse material on his iPhone, including images purchased online from the 13-year-old girl that initiated the investigation by the Philadelphia Police Department’s Special Victims Unit.

U.S. Attorney Metcalf described Lang’s crimes as “stomach-turning,” emphasizing that he sexually abused two children, documented the exploitation, and violated the privacy and trust of others for his and his partner’s gratification. The sentence ensures Lang will remain behind bars, preventing him from harming another innocent child.

Special Agent in Charge of HSI Philadelphia, Edward V. Owens, highlighted the collaborative efforts of HSI, the Philadelphia Police Department, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in uncovering the full extent of Lang and Miller’s actions. Their meticulous planning and execution of the crimes were deemed reprehensible, and the sentencing brought a just end to their depravity.

The case underscores the ongoing commitment of law enforcement to pursue those who engage in such abhorrent crimes and safeguard communities from predators. The outcome serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance and swift action in protecting vulnerable individuals from exploitation and abuse.