OKLAHOMA CITY – DARTAGNON EVERETTDEAN BURNS, 45, of Oklahoma City, has pleaded guilty to distribution and possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.According to public records, on December 10, 2025, an undercover agent with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), posing as the mother of a small child, began communicating with an individual through an online application on the dark web. During the conversations, the individual expressed interest in sexually assaulting the fictitious child and shared child sexual abuse material (CSAM) with the agent. The individual, later identified as Burns, also claimed to have sexually abused other children and shared his phone number with the agent. Law enforcement used the phone number to identify Burns, who was arrested on December 11, 2025.On January 6, 2026, a federal grand jury charged Burns with distribution of child pornography and possession of and access with intent to view material containing child pornography. On April 11, 2026, Burns pleaded guilty and admitted he used his cell phone to distribute child pornography and possessed devices containing child pornography, including images depicting prepubescent children.At sentencing, Burns faces up to 40 years in federal prison and fines of up to $500,000. His crimes carry a mandatory minimum of at least five years in prison.This case is the result of an investigation by HSI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Edgmon prosecuted the case.This case is part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC 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 PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice