Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News
Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury has indicted Donald Robert Wilt Edwards, Sr., 29, of West Virginia, for sexually exploiting a minor. The former Baltimore resident is charged with three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, three counts of distribution of child sexual abuse material, and one count of possession of child pornography.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office, Police Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD), and Colonel Jack Chambers, West Virginia State Police.
According to the indictment, on June 13, 2024 — while Edwards was still residing in Baltimore — Edwards persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced a minor male to engage in sexually explicit conduct. Edwards produced and transmitted a visual depiction of the conduct. Further, the indictment alleges Edwards distributed the visual depictions using an internet-based account and he possessed child sexual abuse material on a digital device.
If convicted, Edwards faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison for each of the three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor; a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 20 years for each of the three counts of distribution of child sexual abuse material; and a maximum of 20 years for 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. Click the “Resources” tab on the left side of the page to learn about Internet safety education.
U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes commended the FBI, BPD, the West Virginia State Police, and West Virginia Parole and Probation Office for their work in the investigation. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Reema Sood 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, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-childhood and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
# # #