Western District of Pennsylvania | Canonsburg resident charged with 11 counts involving sexual exploitation of minors

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal laws regarding the sexual exploitation of minors, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today .

The 11-count indictment named Justin A. Darby, 36, as the sole defendant.

According to the indictment, Darby received and attempted to receive material involving the sexual exploitation of a minor five times in September and October 2021, as well as once in February 2024. Darby also allegedly distributed such material on the Internet. once in September 2021. The indictment further alleges that from September 20, 2021, through October 29, 2021, Darby accessed for the purpose of viewing material relating to the sexual exploitation of minors, and that on February 6, 2024, Darby solicited a minor to to engage in sexually explicit behavior for the purpose of producing a visual representation of such behavior. In addition, on two separate dates, Darby is accused of altering, destroying, concealing or covering data and documents associated with a messaging application on his cell phone.

The law provides for a maximum aggregate penalty of up to 30 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under federal sentencing guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based on the severity of the offenses and the suspect’s prior criminal history, if any. Darby was ordered held.

Assistant United States Attorney Heidi M. Grogan is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation that led to the indictment.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood uses federal, state, and local resources to locate, arrest, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identify victims and save. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.

An indictment is an accusation. A suspect is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.