Canonsburg Resident Indicted on 11 Counts Involving Sexual Exploitation of Minors

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal laws regarding the sexual exploitation of minors, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.

The 11-count Indictment named Justin A. Darby, 36, as the sole defendant.

According to the Indictment, Darby received and attempted to receive material involving the sexual exploitation of a minor on five separate occasions during September and October of 2021, as well as on one occasion in February 2024. Darby is also alleged to have distributed such material on one occasion in September 2021. The Indictment further alleges that, from September 20, 2021, through October 29, 2021, Darby accessed with intent to view material involving the sexual exploitation of minors, and that, on February 6, 2024, Darby induced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct. Additionally, Darby is charged with altering, destroying, concealing, or covering up records and documents associated with a messaging application on his cellular telephone on two separate dates.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 30 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Darby was ordered to be detained.

Assistant United States Attorney Heidi M. Grogan is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.