An Aberdeen woman has pleaded guilty in federal court to charges related to child sexual exploitation. Ashley Graybeal, 27, admitted to sex trafficking a child, sexually exploiting a child, and distributing child sexual abuse material.
The announcement was made by Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, along with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul of the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office, Harford County State's Attorney Alison M. Healey, and Sheriff Jeff Gahler of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office.
According to the plea agreement, Graybeal began using her Kik account in January 2025 to contact other users. She offered sexually explicit images of two minor victims and proposed performing sex acts with the children via livestream in exchange for money. Graybeal sent these images to other Kik users and received payment through an online banking app. The activity was reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children through their Cybertipline in February 2025. Law enforcement intervened quickly and recovered the two children.
"This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse," according to the press release. "Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims." More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at justice.gov/psc.
Graybeal faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to 30 years for Sexual Exploitation of a Child. She also faces up to lifetime supervised release and must register as a sex offender for life.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation: "U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI, Harford County State's Attorney’s Office, and Harford County Sheriff’s Office for their work in the investigation." Assistant U.S. Attorneys Colleen Elizabeth McGuinn and Reema Sood are prosecuting the case.
For more information on resources available from the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office or its priorities within the District, visit their website.
