Hart William Grow, Child Sex Trafficking, South Carolina 2024

Four individuals face federal charges for their alleged roles in child sex trafficking, production of child pornography, and coercion of a minor in South Carolina.

According to a 13-count indictment, Hart William Grow, 25, of Surprise, Arizona, has been charged with conspiracy to sexually traffic a minor, sexual trafficking of a minor, conspiracy to produce child pornography and to coerce and entice a minor, four counts of production of child pornography involving two victims, four counts of coercion and enticement of a minor involving two victims, and possession of child pornography.

The indictment alleges that Grow conspired with Theodore Woolings Bye, III, 36, of Myrtle Beach, to recruit, entice, harbor, transport, provide, obtain, maintain, patronize, and solicit a minor victim in South Carolina to engage in a commercial sex act. Grow allegedly used the internet to misrepresent himself as a 17-year-old female named “Hannah” living in Columbia, South Carolina, and groomed a minor victim to fall in love with him.

Using this false persona, Grow allegedly required the minor victim to engage in often-violent sexual acts with adult men that the victim did not otherwise wish to engage with. Grow also required the adult males to produce, or assist in the production of, a visual depiction of the sexual acts, which were then sent to him.

The indictment further alleges that Bye, with the direction and logistical assistance of Grow, participated in the sexual acts with the victim and made the victim available for sex on numerous occasions to other men. Bye allegedly transported the victim to various locations in and around Myrtle Beach for commercial sex acts and used internet message boards, social media, and text messages to make the victim available to other adult males for sexual encounters.

The remaining two defendants, Sanadin Mohamed Elrayes, 28, of Surfside Beach, and Charles Joseph Spillane, 44, of Myrtle Beach, have been charged with conspiracy to produce child pornography and to coerce and entice a minor.

The case involves activity spanning from Arizona to South Carolina, and victims from the Pee Dee and Midlands regions of South Carolina. The investigation was led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other agencies.

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