Taylor Woman Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Sexually Exploiting an Infant

DETROIT – A Taylor woman was sentenced today to 30 years in prison for sexually exploiting an infant and another child and for distributing child pornography, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.

Ison was joined in the announcement by James A. Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Rheanna Rose Salyer, 26, was sentenced by United States District Judge David M. Lawson.

According to court documents, Salyer admitted creating images sexually exploiting an infant, and that she had sent an image of herself performing inappropriate sexual contact with an infant to another individual over the internet in February 2022. Later that month, Salyer met an undercover officer online who pretended to have a sexual interest in children. During a conversation with the undercover officer, Salyer sent the officer sexually explicit images of the infant, bragged about sexually assaulting the infant, and discussed her desire to engage in sex acts with the undercover officer and the infant together.

Once the FBI was able to confirm Salyer’s identity, agents executed a search warrant at her residence. They discovered additional images of horrific child sexual abuse, including one Salyer created only hours before they entered her home. Salyer’s phone contained numerous conversations with other individuals online discussing her sexual interest in children, and her phone had other sexually explicit images of minors. Salyer also possessed other images of child pornography that she downloaded from the internet or received from others during chats.

“I am thankful for the FBI agents who acted so quickly to save this infant from continued abuse,” stated U.S. Attorney Ison. “This defendant not only abused an infant in an unimaginable manner, but she also shared that abuse with others over the internet. This sentence demonstrates that those who harm our most vulnerable will be held responsible.”

“Rheanna Salyer admitted to sexually exploiting an infant. I can think of nothing more appalling, and today’s sentencing sends an unequivocal message that predatory acts by criminals like her will not be tolerated,” said James A. Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office. “I commend the work of the Southeast Michigan Trafficking and Exploitation Crimes Task Force in this investigation. Their quick and decisive action ensured Salyer will be unable to victimize children for years to come.”

The case was investigated by the Southeast Michigan Trafficking and Exploitation Crimes Task Force of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Rawsthorne.