A Biddeford man received a prison sentence at the U.S. District Court in Portland for possessing materials related to child sexual abuse. Jeffrey Gray, aged 63, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen to serve 10 years in prison, with an additional lifetime of supervised release. Gray had previously entered a guilty plea on February 13, 2023.
Court records indicate federal agents conducted a search at Gray’s residence in September 2022, following reports of his sharing child sexual abuse material via a peer-to-peer file-sharing network. During this search, eight electronic devices were confiscated. A subsequent search in November 2022 revealed three more devices. Forensic analysis of these devices uncovered hundreds of child sexual abuse images. Gray has a prior conviction for aggravated felonious sexual assault in 2012 from Rockingham Superior Court in New Hampshire.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations in collaboration with the Maine State Police.
Possession, distribution, and production of child sexual abuse materials remain serious offenses. These images are a testament to the ongoing exploitation and abuse of children, and the victims endure revictimization whenever these images are viewed. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) reported 36 million instances involving such materials. Reports can be filed through the NCMEC's website or by phone. Victims in Maine can reach out to the state's 24-hour sexual assault helpline for assistance.
The case falls under Project Safe Childhood, an initiative started by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation. This program harnesses federal, state, and local resources to track, arrest, and prosecute those who exploit children on the internet, as well as rescue victims. Further details about the program can be found on the Project Safe Childhood website.