Maryland man pleads guilty to soliciting sexually explicit images of children following HSI Baltimore investigation

BALTIMORE - An investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore, the Maryland State Police, the Howard County Police Department and the Baltimore Police Department resulted in a Maryland man pleading guilty to child sex crimes. Eugene Edward Golden, 37, of Baltimore, pleaded guilty March 21 to conspiracy to commit sexual exploitation of a child and to two counts of sexual exploitation of a child in order to produce and transmit a visual depiction of the sexually explicit conduct.

"Eugene Edward Golden pleading guilty is a necessary step toward ensuring the safety and well-being of the most vulnerable members of our communities," said HSI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge James C. Harris. "Numerous kids were harmed and exploited by Golden's despicable acts; acts that will never be tolerated and have no place in our society. HSI will continue to work relentlessly with our law enforcement partners to rid our streets of such monsters."

According to the investigation, beginning in at least 2019, Golden located several women, specifically his six co-defendants, using dating or prostitution websites. He communicated with each of them individually using texts, messaging apps and social media. Golden requested that each of the women produce sexually explicit videos and images of children and then to send those files to him in exchange for financial compensation.

Golden's co-defendants agreed to his requests and produced and distributed sexually explicit images and videos of at least 12 child victims using their cellphones. The victims ranged in age from approximately one year old to 13 years old. Authorities found images and videos documenting the sexual abuse in Golden's online accounts. He produced and received well over 100 images and videos documenting the sexual abuse of children at his request.

Golden faces a maximum sentence of 90 years in federal prison - a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum of 30 years in federal prison for each of the three counts.

Upon his release from prison, Golden must register as a sex offender where he lives, works or attends school under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.

This investigation was conducted by HSI Baltimore, the Maryland State Police-led Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Baltimore Police Department and the Howard County Police Department. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland is prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. attorney's offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

HSI is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel and finance move. HSI's workforce of more than 8,700 employees consists of more than 6,000 special agents assigned to 237 cities throughout the United States, and 93 overseas locations in 56 countries. HSI's international presence represents DHS' largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.

Learn more about HSI Baltimore's mission to increase public safety in our Maryland communities on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @HSIBaltimore.