United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Sioux Falls woman has been sentenced to ten years in federal prison for possession of child pornography. The sentencing was carried out by U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier on December 16, 2024.

Asha Graystone, aged 34, received a sentence that includes five years of supervised release following her prison term, restitution amounting to $6,000, and a special assessment of $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Upon her release from prison, Graystone will be required to register as a sex offender.

Graystone was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2023 and pleaded guilty on October 2, 2024. Her conviction is linked to incidents between December 6, 2022, and January 10, 2023, when she possessed digital files showing minors involved in sexually explicit activities. She also has a previous state-level conviction for possession of child pornography in Minnehaha County, South Dakota in 2020 for which she received probation.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse. The project coordinates efforts among federal, state, and local resources to prosecute offenders and rescue victims.

The investigation was conducted by the Sioux Falls Police Department along with the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Ebert-Webb prosecuted the case.

Graystone has been permitted to self-surrender to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service by January 6, 2024.