Baltimore, Maryland – A federal criminal complaint has been filed against Dazhon Darien, 32, from Baltimore. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland charged him with sexual exploitation of a child and receiving child sexual abuse material.
Erek L. Barron, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the charges alongside Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the FBI's Baltimore Field Office and Chief Robert McCullough of the Baltimore County Police Department.
The affidavit supporting the complaint states that investigators executed search warrants on Darien’s phones and online accounts, which revealed child sexual abuse material. It further details how Darien used CashApp to pay a minor victim to send videos involving sexually explicit conduct between December 2023 and March 2024. The affidavit also indicates that Darien received files depicting prepubescent minors.
A criminal complaint is not an indication of guilt; individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
If convicted, Darien could face a minimum sentence of 15 years or up to 30 years for sexual exploitation of a child. Additionally, he could receive between five to 20 years for receipt of child sexual abuse material. Sentences are determined by a federal district court judge based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse through collaboration among federal, state, and local resources.
U.S. Attorney Barron praised the investigative efforts by the Baltimore FBI Field Office and Baltimore County Police Department and acknowledged Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine Goo and Paul E. Budlow prosecuting this case.
For further information about Project Safe Childhood or community resources offered by the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, visit www.justice.gov/psc or www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.