Wampum Resident Indicted for Producing and Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material

Pennsylvania Resident Indicted on Charges of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

PITTSBURGH – A resident of Wampum, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of Production of Material Depicting the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor and Possession of Material Depicting the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.

Indictment Details

1. The three-count Indictment named Thomas Hyatt-Baney, 21, formerly of Wampum, Pennsylvania, as the sole defendant.
2. According to the Indictment, Hyatt-Baney, on or about May 28, 2023, and June 25, 2023, produced visual depictions of the sexual exploitation of a minor.
3. The Indictment also charges Hyatt-Baney with possessing, on or about September 9, 2023, videos and still images depicting the sexual exploitation of minors, some of whom were prepubescent and under the age of 12 years.

Potential Sentence

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 15 years or more than 30 years in prison, a fine of $750,000, 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.

Prosecution and Investigation

Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Pennsylvania State Police and Homeland Security Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case. 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 (CEOS), 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.

Presumption of Innocence

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

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
• SDG 5: Gender Equality
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children
• SDG 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation
• SDG 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking, and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labor

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions the following indicators:

• Production of visual depictions of the sexual exploitation of a minor
• Possession of videos and still images depicting the sexual exploitation of minors
• Age range of the minors depicted (prepubescent and under the age of 12 years)

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: ellwoodcity.org