According to a press release from the United States Attorney’s Office District of Utah, the defendant pleaded guilty earlier this year.

“The sentence, imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Ann Marie McIff Allen, comes after Tyler Justin Pitt, 28, of Ogden, Utah, pleaded guilty on February 23, 2026, to coercion and enticement, and receipt of child pornography. In addition to his term of imprisonment, he was sentenced to a lifetime of supervised release,” the press release said. “According to court documents and statements made at Pitt’s change of plea and sentencing hearings, between January 2024 and July 2024 Pitt systematically groomed and exploited a child he met on Snapchat to produce child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and send to him. In many of Pitt’s messages to the victim, he discussed his intention to sexually abuse the victim and repeatedly asked the victim for nude photos and videos. Pitt also sent nude photos and videos of himself to the victim.”

According to the release, Pitt was arrested following the execution of a search warrant in August 2024.

“During the search, law enforcement seized Pitt’s electronic devices, including his iPhone and found his communication with the victim,” the release said. “Based on Pitt’s phone contents, Pitt’s interaction with the victim was not a singular incident but instead part of a larger pattern of child exploitation offenses. Law enforcement found additional exchanged images and videos with numerous females. In addition to Snapchat, Pitt used Omegle, WhatsApp, and Discord to exchange these messages and videos. Pitt’s cellphone also had 22 images of child sexual abuse material, not depicting the victim, which he appeared to receive over X/Twitter. These sexually explicit photos of minors included depictions of prepubescent children. Pitt’s phone also included multiple search terms indicative of child sexual abuse material.”

U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah said one of the office’s most important duties is protecting the vulnerable.

“My office’s priority, along with this administration, is the safety of our communities, especially children, and to remove child predators like Pitt from society,” she said in the release. “Anyone who preys on the most vulnerable among us will be investigated by our federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners and aggressively prosecuted.”

According to the release, the case was investigated jointly by the St. George City Police Department, Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office, St. George Resident Agency. Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Burton of The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.