Gregory Butts, aged 54, has pleaded guilty to a child exploitation offense. The plea was entered before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Court documents and statements reveal that Butts had a previous conviction in April 2016 for illegal sexual contact with a child in Connecticut state court. In November 2020, during the search for two missing juveniles in Colorado, Butts contacted a female friend of the missing minors through a blocked phone number. During the recorded call, he claimed to be with the juveniles and admitted to having sexual contact with them. He threatened harm if law enforcement was alerted and demanded sexual favors from the female friend for their safe return. Fortunately, the juveniles returned home unharmed shortly after being reported missing.

Investigations traced the call to Sprague, Connecticut, where Butts resided as a registered sex offender on probation for prior offenses. His voice was identified on the recording by a probation officer. A subsequent search of his residences led to the seizure of computers and other devices containing over 10,000 images and videos of child pornography and records of explicit conversations with minors via social media.

Butts pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography. Due to his criminal history, this charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years imprisonment and could extend up to 20 years.

The investigation involved collaboration between multiple agencies including the FBI offices in New Haven and Loveland, Colorado; Connecticut Office of Adult Probation; Connecticut State Police; and Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nancy V. Gifford and Daniel E. Cummings are prosecuting the case.

U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery expressed gratitude towards the State’s Attorney’s Office for its cooperation in this matter.

This prosecution aligns with Project Safe Childhood Initiative by the U.S Department of Justice aimed at combating child sexual abuse and exploitation.

To report similar cases, individuals are encouraged to visit www.cybertipline.com.