DETROIT (WWJ) - A Taylor woman was handed down a sentence of 30 years in prison for sexually exploiting an infant along with another child and for distributing child pornography, federal agents announced on Tuesday.
According to U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison, Rheanna Rose Salyer, 26, was sentenced after she admitted to creating images of her sexually abusing an infant as well as sending an image of herself engaging in sex acts with an infant to someone over the internet in February, 2022.
Agents said Salyer met an undercover officer online later in the same month who pretended to be sexually interested in children. As the two conversed, the woman sent the officer sexually explicit pictures of the baby, bragged about her sexual abuse of the infant child and discussed how she wanted to engage in sex acts with the officer and the infant together.
Agents worked to establish Salyer's identity and when they received confirmation, they executed a search warrant on her Taylor home.
According to court documents, agents found "additional images of horrific child sexual abuse, including one Salyer created only hours before they entered her home."
Other conversations with people were also uncovered on her phone where Salyer exchanged messages about her sexual interest minors and shared sexually explicit photos of children.
Salyer had pornographic images of children on her cell phone that were either downloaded from the internet or received from others during chats.
“This defendant not only abused an infant in an unimaginable manner, but she also shared that abuse with others over the internet," Ison said in a prepared statement. "This sentence demonstrates that those who harm our most vulnerable will be held responsible.”
James A. Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office, called the case "appalling" and said that Tuesday's sentencing sends a message that such predatory acts will not be tolerated.
“I commend the work of the Southeast Michigan Trafficking and Exploitation Crimes Task Force in this investigation," Tarasca said. "Their quick and decisive action ensured Salyer will be unable to victimize children for years to come.”