A former law student from Georgia has been sentenced to prison for possessing a significant number of child sexual abuse materials. Gregory Gallagher, 37, from Marietta, Georgia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge C. Ashley Royal to 78 months in prison, followed by 15 years of supervised release. He has also been ordered to pay restitution of $169,649.12 to the victims and will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release. Gallagher had pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography on April 22, 2024. Due to the nature of the federal system, he is not eligible for parole.
Acting U.S. Attorney C. Shanelle Booker emphasized the lasting trauma inflicted on victims in these cases. "Children who experience the horror of being sexually abused are continually traumatized each and every time the image or video of the heinous act is viewed. These images are permanent and cause harm well beyond the moment they were originally captured," Booker stated.
Steven N. Schrank, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Atlanta, declared, "This conviction is a victory for justice and a warning to those who prey on children—we will find you and you will face the full force of the law."
Additionally, GBI Director Chris Hosey remarked on law enforcement's dedication to protecting children. "Today’s conviction reflects the relentless efforts of law enforcement to protect children from exploitation and hold offenders accountable,” he said.
The investigation was initiated after five Cybertip reports were received by the GBI Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children between May and August 2021. These reports were linked to Gallagher, who was a student at Mercer Law School during the time of the crime. A search of his accounts and residences revealed thousands of illegal images and videos.
The federal case was part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice to address child sexual exploitation and abuse. The goal is to mobilize federal, state, and local resources to prosecute offenders and rescue victims.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, with assistance from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joy Odom is prosecuting the case.
