Cyber Tips Lead to Sentence for Hedgesville Man Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material

MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA - A Hedgesville, West Virginia man was sentenced for distributing child sexual abuse material, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey.

Octavious Young, 20, was sentenced to 60 months in prison. Multiple cyber tips were made by the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children regarding child sexual abuse material connected to an email later traced to Young. Investigators executed search warrants on Young's home and electronic devices, finding hundreds of child sexual abuse videos and pictures.

Young was ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution to any victims depicted in the materials. When he completes his prison sentence, he will serve 60 years of supervised release and is required to register as a sex offender. This case underscores how timely cyber tips reported to authorities play a critical role in identifying offenders, protecting children, and ensuring they are held accountable.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberley Crockett prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.

The West Virginia State Police investigated.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.

U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.