David X. Sullivan, the United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and P.J. O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced charges against Sean Sayer, a 22-year-old from Naugatuck. Sayer faces federal criminal charges related to child exploitation offenses.
According to court documents and statements made in court, an eight-year-old boy from Oregon contacted Sayer via text message on March 20, 2025. The minor asked if Sayer was @fornight_legends on TikTok. Over three days, they exchanged over 1,300 messages where Sayer allegedly demanded sexually explicit images and videos from the minor victim in exchange for playing Fortnite online. The minor reportedly sent at least 15 videos that constitute child sexual abuse material or child pornography.
Sayer was arrested on June 18, 2025. A preliminary forensic review of his cellphone allegedly uncovered screenshots of Snapchat conversations with other minors whom he coerced into sending sexually explicit photos.
Sayer appeared today for a bond hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria E. Garcia in New Haven and was released on a $150,000 bond into home detention with location monitoring. He is prohibited from accessing the internet and having contact with minors.
The complaint against Sayer includes several charges: production of child pornography (with penalties ranging from 15 to 30 years imprisonment), coercion and enticement of a minor (10 years to life imprisonment), receipt of child pornography (five to 20 years imprisonment), possession of child pornography (up to 20 years imprisonment), and transfer of obscene material to a minor (up to 10 years imprisonment).
U.S. Attorney Sullivan emphasized that these are allegations only; a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force is conducting this investigation with assistance from federal, state, local law enforcement agencies, and the Eugene Police Department in Oregon. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary G. Vitale is prosecuting the case.
This prosecution aligns with Project Safe Childhood Initiative by the U.S. Department of Justice aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood visit www.justice.gov/psc or report cases at www.cybertipline.com.
