Michele Beckwith Acting U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California
Peter Yang, a 34-year-old resident of Fresno, has entered a guilty plea to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor. This development was announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith.
Court documents reveal that between November 2021 and March 2022, Yang engaged in communication with a 15-year-old victim from Missouri via the gaming platform Among Us, followed by interactions on Discord and FaceTime calls. During these exchanges, Yang coerced the victim into producing and sending sexually explicit images to him. Additionally, he discussed plans to travel from California to Missouri to meet the victim at a motel near their residence.
The investigation into this case was conducted by the Christian County, Missouri Sheriff’s Office and the Central California Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Gappa is handling the prosecution.
Yang is facing up to 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for his actions related to sexual exploitation of a minor. His sentencing is scheduled for July 14, 2025. The final sentence will be determined by the court based on statutory factors and Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
This case falls under Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice aimed at addressing child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide. The program unites federal, state, and local resources to prosecute offenders who exploit children while also identifying and rescuing victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.usdoj.gov/psc under the “resources” tab for internet-safety education.