Gregory Butts, 54, has pleaded guilty to a child exploitation offense before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The announcement was made by Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut.
Court documents and statements reveal that Butts was previously convicted in April 2016 in Connecticut state court for illegal sexual contact with a child. In November 2020, Butts contacted family and friends of two missing juveniles in Colorado using a blocked phone number. He falsely claimed to be with the juveniles and threatened harm if law enforcement were involved. He also demanded sexual intercourse from a female friend of the juveniles in exchange for their return. The juveniles returned home unharmed shortly after being reported missing.
Investigators traced the call to Sprague, Connecticut, where Butts resided as a registered sex offender on probation. A probation officer identified his voice on the recording leading to searches of his residences. Authorities seized electronic devices revealing over 10,000 images and videos of child pornography along with explicit conversations with minors on social media.
Butts admitted guilt to possession of child pornography which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years imprisonment and a maximum term of 20 years due to his criminal history. He has been detained since March 4, 2022.
The investigation involved multiple agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation in New Haven and Loveland, Connecticut Office of Adult Probation, Connecticut State Police, and the Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nancy V. Gifford and Daniel E. Cummings are prosecuting the case.
U.S. Attorney Avery expressed gratitude towards the State’s Attorney’s Office for New London Judicial District for their cooperation in this matter.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood Initiative by the U.S. Department of Justice aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood visit www.justice.gov/psc or report cases at www.cybertipline.com.