December 22, 2023
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. – Westchester County District Attorney Miriam E. Rocah and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York Acting Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan announced today that a New Castle man was charged with attempting to rape a child in Greenburgh following an undercover operation targeting online child predators.
DA Rocah said: “We thank HSI for pursuing this case and bringing it to our Cyber Crimes Bureau. Their vigilance is paramount to prevent vulnerable children from being sexually exploited and preyed upon. My Office will now seek to hold this defendant accountable.”
HSI New York Acting Special Agent in Charge Keegan said: “This investigation centered around allegations of an attempted rape and sexual assault of a pre-school aged child, and evolved to include additional abhorrent allegations. I applaud the collaborative effort between HSI New York’s Hudson Valley Office and the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office for their commitment to ensuring our community is kept safe from accused child predators.”
Following an investigation by HSI New York and DA’s Office criminal investigators, the defendant, Dustin Layme, 26, was arrested on Dec. 14 by the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, and has been charged with Attempted Rape in the First Degree, Attempted Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, three counts of Possessing an Obscene Sexual Performance by a Child, and Attempted Predatory Assault Against a Child.
The defendant is currently remanded to Westchester County Jail. His next court date is Jan. 9, 2024.
As alleged in the felony complaint, the defendant made contact online with an undercover law enforcement agent who was posing as the parent of a young girl. During a series of sexually explicit online communications, the defendant discussed engaging in various sexual acts with the child, including sexual intercourse, and arranged to meet with who he believed to be the child and her parent at a hotel in Greenburgh. The defendant was arrested after attempting to enter the hotel room where he believed the child and parent were waiting.
The District Attorney’s Office High Technology Crimes Squad conducted a forensic analysis of the defendant’s cell phone and discovered numerous videos of children engaged in sexual acts.
Anyone who may have been victimized or may have more information about the defendant can contact the DA’s Office at 914-995-TIPS (8477). Language assistance is available.
The case is being handled by Cyber Crimes Deputy Bureau Chief Laura Forbes of the Trials and Investigations Division.
The charges against the defendant are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Anna Young, Public Information Officer
(914) 995-6551
ayoung@westchesterda.net
