A Baltimore man has been charged with sexual exploitation of a child and receipt of child sexual abuse material, according to a federal criminal complaint filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland. Dazhon Darien, 32, faces these charges following an investigation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Baltimore Field Office and the Baltimore County Police Department.
The affidavit supporting the criminal complaint states that investigators executed search warrants on Darien’s phones and online accounts, uncovering child sexual abuse material. The document also details how Darien allegedly used CashApp to pay a minor victim for videos depicting sexually explicit conduct between December 2023 and March 2024. Additionally, it is alleged that Darien received files showing prepubescent minors in abusive situations.
U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron emphasized that "a criminal complaint is not a finding of guilt," noting that individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
If convicted, Darien could face significant prison time: a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years or up to 30 years for sexual exploitation of a child, and between five to 20 years for receiving child sexual abuse material. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge who will consider various guidelines and statutory factors.
This case falls under Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse through collaboration among federal, state, and local resources.
U.S. Attorney Barron praised both the FBI's Baltimore Field Office and the Baltimore County Police Department for their investigative efforts. He also acknowledged Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine Goo and Paul E. Budlow for prosecuting this case.
Further information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.justice.gov/psc under the “Resources” tab for Internet safety education materials.
For more on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office's priorities and community resources, visit www.justice.gov/usao-md or https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
