A former law student, Gregory Gallagher, 37, received a prison sentence for possessing child sexual abuse material. Gallagher will serve 78 months in prison, followed by 15 years of supervised release, and must pay $169,649.12 in restitution to the victims. U.S. District Judge C. Ashley Royal handed down the sentence. Upon his release, Gallagher will be required to register as a sex offender. He pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography on April 22, 2024. In the federal system, parole is not an option.
Acting U.S. Attorney C. Shanelle Booker stressed the impact of such crimes, stating, "Children who experience the horror of being sexually abused are continually traumatized each and every time the image or video of the heinous act is viewed." She emphasized the federal commitment to prosecuting child predators involved in viewing, uploading, or sharing such material.
The investigation, spearheaded by the Georgia Bureau of Investigations' Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, received reports from May to August 2021. These reports, originating from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, led agents to Gallagher. Evidence included 38 videos and 1,970 images in online subfolders and additional files from Gallagher's cell phone. Further investigations conducted at his residences in Macon and Marietta revealed extensive CSAM on Gallagher's devices.
HSI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Steven N. Schrank affirmed the determination to safeguard communities, saying, "Together, HSI and our law enforcement partners will remain steadfast in our mission to safeguard communities and ensure that those who exploit children are held accountable."
GBI Director Chris Hosey commented on the conviction, noting the dedication of law enforcement to protect children. "Today’s conviction reflects the relentless efforts of law enforcement to protect children from exploitation and hold offenders accountable."
This prosecution occurred under Project Safe Childhood, an initiative started by the Department of Justice in 2006 to address child sexual exploitation. The effort brings together federal, state, and local resources for the apprehension and prosecution of offenders and the rescue of victims. For additional information, Project Safe Childhood's website provides further resources.
The case involved collaboration among Homeland Security Investigations, the GBI's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joy Odom is prosecuting the case.