A man from Jefferson County, Alabama, has pleaded guilty to multiple charges related to the sexual exploitation and abuse of children. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona.
Graham Daniel Ash, 42, of Pinson, Alabama, entered his plea before U.S. District Judge Annemarie Axon. The 11-count superseding indictment included three counts of sexual exploitation of children, two counts of transportation of child pornography, three counts of coercion and enticement of a minor, one count of possession of child pornography, one count of aggravated sexual abuse with a child, and one count concerning penalties for registered sex offenders. Ash had previously been convicted in 2022 for electronic solicitation of a child in Jefferson County.
Court documents indicate that starting in August 2023, Ash shared images and videos containing child sexual abuse material during online conversations with an undercover FBI agent from the District of Columbia Field Office. Law enforcement executed a federal search warrant at Ash’s home in Pinson, where they recovered a laptop and two destroyed cell phones.
After the search warrant was carried out, FBI agents from both the District of Columbia and Northern District of Alabama continued their investigation into Ash. Through search warrants on his online accounts and forensic analysis of seized devices, authorities found evidence that he committed additional crimes involving minors between March and October 2023 across the United States. Investigators determined that Ash requested and received child sexual abuse material from minors and directed them to perform sexually explicit acts for him. He also traveled out-of-state to engage in sexual acts with one victim. These findings led to further charges in the Northern District of Alabama.
Ash faced separate charges in the District of Columbia for distribution of child pornography as well as coercion and enticement of a minor. He pleaded guilty to those charges as well and was sentenced in April 2025 to 216 months in federal prison.
“If you suspect or become aware of possible sexual exploitation of a child, please contact law enforcement. To alert the FBI Birmingham Office, call 205-326-6166. Reports can also be filed with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) or online at www.cybertipline.org,” said officials.
The case is part of Project Safe Childhood—a Department of Justice initiative started in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation through collaboration among federal, state, and local agencies nationwide. More information about this program is available at www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The investigation involved several agencies including the FBI Birmingham Field Office’s Violent Crimes Against Children Unit and the FBI Washington Field Office. Law enforcement agencies from numerous states contributed to identifying victims across Missouri, Texas, California, Connecticut, West Virginia, Kentucky, Kansas, Florida, Indiana, New York, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Colorado, and Maryland. Assistant U.S. Attorney R. Leann White is prosecuting the case.
