David Clay Fowlkes, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas
On January 15, 2025, Benjamin Coney and Emily Grace Brinley from Conway, Arkansas, were sentenced to a total of 378 months in prison without parole for the online enticement of a minor. The sentencing took place in the U.S. District Court in Fayetteville under Judge Timothy L. Brooks.
Court documents reveal that an undercover investigation began in November 2023 by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Benton County Sheriff’s Office. The operation targeted online predators seeking minors for sexual activities. Between November 19 and November 27, 2023, Coney and Brinley communicated with an undercover FBI officer posing as a mother of two young girls. They detailed their plans to abuse the children and arranged to travel from Conway to Bentonville for this purpose. Upon arrival at the meeting location, they were arrested by law enforcement officers. Items found in their vehicle included sexual aides and lubricant.
In May 2024, a Grand Jury in the Western District of Arkansas indicted both individuals. Benjamin Coney pleaded guilty in September 2023 and received a sentence of 210 months imprisonment followed by 25 years of supervision. Emily Grace Brinley pleaded guilty in July 2023 and was sentenced to 168 months with an additional 15 years of supervision.
U.S. Attorney Clay Fowlkes announced the sentencing outcome. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Benton County Sheriff’s Office, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyler Williams prosecuted it on behalf of the United States.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. It involves federal, state, and local resources aimed at apprehending offenders who exploit children via the Internet and rescuing victims.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
