GALVESTON, TEXAS — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Texas, Southern), published as received.
GALVESTON, Texas - A 59-year-old resident of League City has been indicted on multiple counts to include coercion and enticement of a minor, and possession and production of child sexual abuse material, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Authorities have now arrested Daryn Edwards. He is now making his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena Hanovice Palermo.
A federal grand jury in Galveston returned the five-count indictment Nov. 18.
Edwards is charged with two counts of coercion and enticement of a minor and faces up to life in prison, if convicted. He is also facing two counts of sexual exploitation of children and one count of possession of child pornography which carries terms of 20 and 10 years, respectively. He could also be ordered to pay a $250,000 fine.
FBI Texas City conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren M. Valenti is prosecuting the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
