Marc H. Silverman, the Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced the sentencing of Gregory Butts to 20 years in a federal prison. Butts, 54, a former resident of Sprague, Connecticut, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport for a child exploitation offense and related threats.
Court documents revealed that Butts was convicted in 2016 in Connecticut state court for illegal sexual contact with a child. In a separate incident in November 2020, he phoned a contact number provided by the family and friends of two missing juveniles in Colorado, claiming he was with the minors and had sexual contact with them. During the call, which was recorded, Butts threatened the female friend answering the phone, stating he would harm the juveniles if law enforcement were notified, and further demanded sexual intercourse in exchange for their return. The juveniles returned home unharmed shortly after being reported missing.
Investigations traced the call to a sparsely populated area in Sprague, Connecticut. Butts, identified as a registered sex offender, was on probation for a previous offense involving a minor. A Connecticut probation officer confirmed Butts' voice from the recorded conversation, leading to a search of his residence. Authorities seized several electronic devices which, upon forensic analysis, revealed over 10,000 images and videos of child pornography, as well as explicit conversations with minors on social media platforms.
Detained since March 4, 2022, Butts pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography on January 17, 2025. The investigation involved multiple agencies, including the FBI, Connecticut State Police, and the Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nancy V. Gifford and Daniel E. Cummings prosecuted the case, with the cooperation of the Connecticut Office of Adult Probation.
Silverman also acknowledged the State’s Attorney’s Office for the Judicial District of New London for its collaboration during the investigation and prosecution. This case is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, focusing on the protection of children from sexual abuse and exploitation.
Reports of child exploitation can be made at www.cybertipline.com. More about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.justice.gov/psc.
