Source: Office of United States Attorneys
Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Dazhon Darien, 32, of Houston, Texas, with five counts of sexual exploitation of a child, two counts of coercion and enticement of a child, one count of receipt of child sexual abuse material, and four counts of possession of child sexual abuse material.
Erek L. Barron, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the charges with Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office, and Chief Robert McCullough, Baltimore County Police Department.
According to the indictment, between July 2023 and July 2024, the defendant persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced a minor male to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing and transmitting child sexual abuse material. Additionally, the indictment alleges that the defendant enticed two minor males to engage in prohibited sexual conduct and Darien possessed child sexual abuse material in internet-based accounts and on one digital device.
If convicted, Darien faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison for each of the five counts of sexual exploitation of a minor; a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to a maximum sentence of life imprisonment for each of the two counts of coercion and enticement of a child; a mandatory minimum of five years and up to a maximum of 20 years in federal prison for the single count of receipt of child sexual abuse material, and a maximum of 20 years in federal prison for each of the four counts of possession of child sexual abuse material.
Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. Individuals charged by indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page.
U.S. Attorney Barron commended the Baltimore FBI Field Office and the Baltimore County Police Department, for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine O. Goo and Paul E. Budlow who are prosecuting the federal case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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