Steven M. Manczuk, 40, was found guilty of rape, aggravated criminal sodomy, sexual exploitation of a child, and solicitation to commit capital murder. A Leavenworth County jury reached the verdict Wednesday, July 19.

Manczuk was already in custody for the rape, aggravated criminal sodomy, and sexual exploitation of a child charges when authorities learned he was soliciting to have two of his victims murdered. The initial charges stem from incidents taking place between 2010 and the year 2013 when the victims were under the age of 14, according to a release from Leavenworth County Attorney Todd Thompson.

In November of 2022, detectives learned of Manczuk’s desire to have his victims murdered when a fellow inmate tipped them off. During the investigation, it was determined that Manczuk communicated with fellow inmates in an attempt to have his victims murdered. Those inmates turned on Manczuk and reported their interactions.

Manczuk was charged with rape, aggravated criminal sodomy, and sexual exploitation of a child following an FBI investigation in May 2020 after the FBI’s Detroit Division opened a case on a man who lived in Michigan. Investigators determined that the subject of their Detroit investigation had a Skype account that communicated with a Skype account named “steve.manczuck83.” The conversation happened in July 2011.

During those conversations, Manczuk shared child pornography pictures and stated that he had access to a child to sexually abuse.

Investigators determined the Skype account belonged to Steven M. Manczuk, who lived in Leavenworth when the investigation was conducted.

In June 2021, FBI Detroit notified FBI Kansas City, and the FBI’s Kansas City Division began investigative activities into Steven Manczuk for the suspected sexual abuse of minors.

During the investigation, the victims came forward and described the incidents that occurred to them, which matched the images the FBI discovered.

“This is a job well done by all agencies,” Thompson said. “We are incredibly grateful to our FBI, who are vigilantly hunting down these people and working to protect our children.”