Clinton J. Johnson U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma
A man from Mounds, Oklahoma, has been sentenced for producing and possessing child pornography in Indian Country. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
Dylan Ray Yahola, 33, received a sentence of 200 months in prison from U.S. District Judge William P. Johnson. After his release, Yahola will be subject to lifetime supervised release and must register as a sex offender. He was also ordered to pay $33,000 in restitution to the victims identified in the material he possessed.
The case began in December 2024 when Yahola’s girlfriend discovered that he had been communicating with a 16-year-old through social media and exchanging explicit messages. She reported this information to law enforcement.
Investigators executed a search warrant and found evidence that Yahola had asked the minor victim to send nude photos and videos of themselves, while he sent similar images of himself in return. Authorities also discovered that Yahola had previously downloaded more than 30 images and over 800 videos depicting child sexual abuse, including some involving toddlers.
Yahola is a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and will remain in custody until he is transferred to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) serves as the national reporting system for suspected child sexual exploitation cases. According to NCMEC, its CyberTipline has handled over 195 million reports related to Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). The organization’s Child Victim Identification Program has reviewed more than 425 million images and videos and helped identify over 30,000 victims nationwide.
NCMEC notes that technology allows CSAM content to circulate widely online, resulting in repeated harm each time it is shared. Families affected by such exploitation often face significant challenges but can receive support through NCMEC programs connecting them with local professionals or other families who have experienced similar situations.
The FBI and Muscogee Creek Nation Lighthorse Police led the investigation into this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christian Harris and Ashley Robert prosecuted Yahola.
This prosecution falls under Project Safe Childhood—a Department of Justice initiative launched in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation online by coordinating efforts among federal, state, and local agencies. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at Justice.gov/PSC.
