Grand jury indicts Pennsylvania man who allegedly sexually exploited Ohio teenager he met online

COLUMBUS, Ohio - A federal grand jury charged a Pennsylvania man with sexually exploiting a minor victim and traveling interstate to engage in illicit sexual conduct with the victim.

Dustin Combs, 30, of Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, allegedly traveled to central Ohio on numerous occasions to engage in sex acts with a 13-year-old girl he met online.

Combs was arrested in Pennsylvania and was arraigned in federal court today in Columbus.

According to the 10-count indictment returned on Nov. 8, for at least 10 months, Combs sexually exploited the minor victim by producing child pornography that depicted the victim and filming their sex acts at various locations including at Columbus area hotels.

It is alleged that Combs traveled to Ohio on least five occasions in July, October and November 2023 and April 2024 to engage in illegal sex acts with the victim.

Sexual exploitation of a minor is punishable by a mandatory minimum 15 years and up to 30 years in prison. Traveling with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor is a federal crime that carries a potential penalty of up to 30 years in prison.

Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Angie Salazar, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin and other members of the Franklin County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Emily Czerniejewski is representing the United States in this case.

An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

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