First State Times

WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced that a Bear, Delaware man pled guilty in federal court today to one count of Coercion and Enticement of a Minor. The Honorable Jennifer L. Hall, U.S. District Judge for the District of Delaware, accepted the plea.

According to court documents, Darius Matylewich, 27, was arrested by the FBI after he removed an 11-year-old from her New Jersey home and traveled with her to his Bear, Delaware home to engage in sexual activity. On September 10, 2023, the Wayne Township New Jersey Police Department (“WTPD”) received a report of a missing 11-year-old victim. Through investigative measures, WTPD determined that Matylewich took the 11-year-old victim from New Jersey to his home in Bear, Delaware. In assisting WTPD, the New Castle County Police Department safely recovered the 11-year-old victim and arrested Matylewich.

A subsequent investigation revealed that Matylewich met the 11-year-old victim on the internet and communicated with her via online video games and social media platforms. A forensic analysis of Matylewich’s cellphone and social media uncovered message threads in which Matylewich coerced the victim to perform sexual acts and produce child pornography for him. Investigators also recovered messages in which Matylewich described covertly watching and following the victim near her New Jersey home.

Matylewich used an application on his iPhone to covertly record conversations, videos, and images of the 11-year-old performing sexual acts that he solicited from her. He stored hundreds of videos and images within the “hidden” folder of his Apple Photos application, accessible only via facial recognition.

U.S. Attorney Weiss stated: “My office is dedicated to protecting children from those like the defendant who prey on the innocent and vulnerable on the internet. I urge families to be wary of sharing information with online strangers to avoid individuals like the defendant.” He commended "the diligent work of the FBI, New Castle County Police, and Wayne Township Police for their swift work in bringing the defendant to justice.”

“Darius Matylewich is a child predator whose sick and abhorrent behavior took advantage of an innocent girl who now has significant healing ahead of her,” said Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office. “Unequivocally our community is safer with Matylewich behind bars where he can no longer victimize anyone else’s child.”

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michelle Thurstlic-O’Neill and Kevin P. Pierce. It was investigated by the FBI’s Delaware Violent Crime and Safe Streets Taskforce with assistance from several agencies including Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office; Wayne Township New Jersey Police Department; New Castle County Police Department; and U.S. Marshals Service.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents are available on PACER by searching for Case No.:1:23-CR-102.

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