Arizona man charged with attempting to arrange sexual encounter with minor via dark web

An Arizona man is facing serious charges after a grand jury indicted him on online sexual exploitation charges involving an undercover police officer he believed was the mother of a 7-year-old girl. According to an affidavit from federal law enforcement officials in California obtained by FOX 10 Phoenix, Anthony Dalton Wolff, 42, of Surprise, Arizona, encountered the officer on a dark web forum. Reports indicate the discussion board was devoted to topics of child sexual abuse.

Prosecutors allege Wolff first contacted the agent in March 2023 and continued to do so until July 30, 2024. He eventually began communicating via Telegram, which is described as a fully encrypted application that “does not cooperate with law enforcement.” According to details released by the Justice Department, Wolff planned to inappropriately meet the agent and her daughter in California and described in detail how he planned to sexually abuse the girl and have another child with the mother so he could sexually abuse that child.

A search warrant executed at Wolff’s Surprise home on Aug. 28 resulted in the seizure of devices related to the incident, prosecutors said. Wolff is now in custody and could face five to 20 years in prison if convicted of the distribution charge. Additionally, the attempted coercion charge could carry a sentence ranging from 10 years to life in prison. Fines associated with the charges could be as high as $250,000 for each offense.

Authorities believe there may be additional victims who have not yet been identified and have issued a public plea for anyone with relevant information to come forward. “Law enforcement believes there may be additional victims in this case and urges anyone with information to come forward by calling the HSI Tip Line at 877-4-HSI-TIP or through the CyberTipline on the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) website,” prosecutors implored. The case of Wolff, who is charged with distributing a visual depiction of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct and attempted coercion and enticement, serves as a chilling reminder of the ongoing dangers lurking in anonymous online spaces.

As the legal process unfolds, it remains to be seen what form justice will ultimately take. However, the indictment itself is a testament to the continued efforts of law enforcement to track down and resolutely prosecute those who engage in the exploitation of minors, using both the open spaces and the encrypted shadows of the internet. Ground News reported more details about the case, identifying Wolff and clarifying the gruesome nature of the charges.