Michele Beckwith Acting U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California
A federal grand jury has indicted Ray Anthony Waller, a 37-year-old from Fresno, on charges of sexual exploitation of a child, receipt of child sexual abuse images, and sending obscene material to a minor. Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced the indictment.
Court documents reveal that between November 2024 and February 2025, Waller allegedly communicated with a minor through text, voice, and iMessages. He is accused of persuading the minor to create and send him sexually explicit images. Waller reportedly sent obscene images of himself to the victim and convinced the victim to reciprocate with similar images. Currently detained pending trial, Waller's detention hearing is scheduled for June 30, 2025. Additionally, he faces related charges in Fresno County Superior Court.
The investigation was conducted by the Central California Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, particularly the Fresno Police Department with support from Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney David L. Gappa is leading the prosecution.
If convicted on the charge of sexual exploitation of a minor, Waller could face between 15 and 30 years in prison and fines up to $250,000. The charge for receiving child sexual abuse images carries a potential sentence of 5 to 20 years in prison and similar fines. Transmitting obscene material to a minor could result in up to 10 years in prison and fines up to $250,000. Sentencing will be determined by the court based on statutory factors and Federal Sentencing Guidelines after any conviction.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide. The project brings together federal, state, and local resources to prosecute offenders while identifying and rescuing victims.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood or internet safety education resources, visit www.usdoj.gov/psc under the “resources” tab.
