A federal grand jury in Charleston has indicted four men from the Beaufort area on charges related to child sex trafficking, coercion, and distribution of child sexual abuse material. The indictment includes nine counts against Jaquan Duvall Barnes, 30, of Port Royal; William James Youmans, 35, of Beaufort; Guy Frank Talley, 28, of Beaufort; and Alban Bryan, 64, of Saint Helena Island.
According to court documents and evidence presented at hearings, the case centers on a minor female victim who was particularly vulnerable due to drug dependence and her status as a runaway. The indictment alleges that between December 2023 and January 2024, Bryan recruited and trafficked the minor for sex acts in exchange for drugs and housing. It is also alleged that Bryan received and distributed child sexual abuse material depicting the victim and produced such material himself.
From January to March 2024, Barnes, Youmans, and Talley are accused of coercing the same minor into illegal sex acts. Prosecutors allege that Barnes and Youmans trafficked her into commercial sex in exchange for drugs, housing, or money while knowing she was underage. They are also accused of working together to exploit her by obtaining compromising photographs used for online advertisements offering commercial sex services. Additional allegations include arranging meetings with customers for commercial sex acts, transporting the minor to hotels, providing illegal narcotics to her, confiscating proceeds from these activities, and distributing child sexual abuse material. Talley allegedly helped advertise the minor online.
Each defendant faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in federal prison if convicted—potentially up to life imprisonment—as well as lifetime supervision after release from prison. They would also be required to register as sex offenders and pay restitution to victims.
Barnes, Talley, and Youmans were arraigned on October 9 in federal court; all three were ordered detained pending trial. Bryan was ordered detained after a hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mary Gordon Baker on October 16. U.S. District Judge Bruce Howe Hendricks will oversee further proceedings.
“This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood,” according to information provided by authorities. “Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children.” More details about this initiative can be found at http://www.justice.gov/psc.
The investigation involved Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), Hardeeville Police Department, Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia Highway Patrol, and Jacksonville (Florida) Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amy F. Bower and Elliott B. Daniels are prosecuting the case.
Officials emphasized: “All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and that defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.”
Federal statutes still use “child pornography” but officials now prefer “child sexual abuse material,” which they say more accurately reflects both the nature of these crimes against minors as well as their impact.
