U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal | U.S. Department of Justice
A Des Moines man, Jeffrey Walter Gray, has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for the sexual exploitation and attempted sexual exploitation of a child, as well as possessing child pornography. According to court documents and evidence presented, Gray exploited dozens of minors between 2005 and 2015 to produce child sexual abuse material.
Gray used his photography business, Wicked Imagery, in the Des Moines area to create some of this material. He placed hidden cameras in dressing areas at his studio to capture videos of minors undressing. Investigators have identified over 20 children in Gray's collection, with many others yet unidentified. In total, he amassed over 10,000 files of such material.
After serving his sentence, Gray will undergo a seven-year term of supervised release. Restitution for victims will be determined later.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal commented on the case: "Child predators like Gray use trust as a weapon for their own depraved goals." He praised the strength of the victims and the dedication of law enforcement officers who secured justice.
Eugene Kowel from the Omaha FBI Field Office stated that identifying and apprehending child predators is a high priority for the FBI. "Today’s sentence ensures that Gray will be held accountable for his horrendous actions," he said.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and Des Moines Police Department with assistance from Iowa's Department of Public Safety-Division of Criminal Investigations. This case was part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at protecting children from exploitation and abuse since its inception in 2006.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
