Dartagnon Everettdean Burns, 45, of Oklahoma City, pleaded guilty on April 11 to distribution and possession of child pornography, according to a May 12 announcement by U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement to address online child exploitation. The investigation began when an undercover agent with Homeland Security Investigations communicated with Burns through a dark web application in December 2025. During the conversations, Burns expressed interest in sexually assaulting a fictitious child and shared illegal material with the agent. He also claimed to have abused other children and provided his phone number, which led law enforcement officers to identify and arrest him on December 11, 2025.
Burns was charged by a federal grand jury on January 6 with distribution of child pornography as well as possession of material containing such content. At his plea hearing, he admitted using his cell phone for these crimes and possessing devices that contained images depicting prepubescent children.
At sentencing, Burns faces up to forty years in federal prison and fines reaching $500,000; there is also a mandatory minimum sentence of at least five years in prison for these offenses. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Edgmon prosecuted the case after an investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), an initiative led by the Department of Justice designed to combat child sexual exploitation online through collaboration among federal, state, and local agencies. More information about PSC can be found at www.justice.gov/psc.
The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma enforces federal laws within its jurisdiction—which covers forty counties across western and central Oklahoma—and works collaboratively on initiatives such as Project Safe Neighborhoods and Project Safe Childhood within the Department of Justice structure according to the official website.
