HARRISBURG — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle), published as received.

HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Sean Banks, age 55, and Asheyla Barbour, age 31, both of Franklin County, Pennsylvania, were indicted by a federal grand jury on drug trafficking and sexual exploitation of children charges. 

According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment brings forward a total of fourteen counts and alleges that Banks produced multiple videos depicting the sexual exploitation of two minor victims between June 2023 and March 2024.  The Indictment further alleges that Barbour knowingly permitted the victims to engage in sexually explicit conduct. Banks and Barbour are charged with distribution and receipt of child pornography, respectively. It is further alleged that Banks and Barbour possessed with the intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and marijuana.

The case was investigated by the Pennsylvania State Police and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Dukes is prosecuting the 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, 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.usdoj.gov/psc.

The maximum penalty under federal law for each violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2251(a) is 30 years of imprisonment, with a mandatory minimum term of 15 years imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

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