ROANOKE, Va. – A Vinton, Virginia man, who used Snapchat to exploit at least nine underage girls online, was sentenced this week to 14 years in federal prison.
Alageon Jaytwon Gravely, 22, pled guilty earlier this year to nine counts of receipt, distribution, or distribution and receipt of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
“Anyone who targets minors for sexual exploitation online will be targeted for priority prosecution by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia,” First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci said today. “I commend the outstanding cooperation among Homeland Security Investigations, Virginia State Police, and the Roanoke County Police Department to ensure accountability in this case.”
“Gravely sexually exploited at least nine children he met online, a crime that has become all too common. Now, he’s facing over a decade behind bars and away from vulnerable kids. HSI works every day with our law enforcement partners to keep children safe online and ensure predators like Gravely are brought to justice,” said Homeland Security Investigations Washington, D.C. Acting Special Agent in Charge Kai Wah Chan.
According to court documents, agents with the Virginia State Police, assisted by the Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations, began investigating Gravely following allegations of serious sexual misconduct by a minor’s guardian.
During the investigation, investigators obtained search warrants for Gravely’s cell phone and similar devices. Investigators discovered a large amount of sexually explicit material in the defendant’s online accounts, much of it involving teenagers.
At least nine minors were identified in sexually explicit pictures and videos on Gravely’s phone, some of which he created himself. Investigators located messages from several victims that clearly indicate they told Gravely they were underage; however, he still requested explicit images.
The Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations and the Virginia State Police investigated the case with additional investigative assistance from the Roanoke County Police Department.
The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identity and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/ .
Know2Protect is a Department of Homeland Security national public awareness campaign to educate and empower kids, teens, parents, trusted adults and policymakers to prevent and combat online child sexual exploitation and abuse (CSEA), explain how to report online enticement and victimization, and offer response and support resources for victims and survivors of online child sexual exploitation.
For more information about HSI’s efforts to protect children from sexual predators, visit Know2Protect.gov .
Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office — Western District of Virginia — U.S. Department of Justice press release.