Spokane, Washington – United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice sentenced Donald Eugene Griffin, Jr., age 43, to 144 months in prison for distributing child sexual abuse material. Following his prison term, Griffin will undergo a lifetime of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.
Court documents and information from the sentencing hearing reveal that in November 2019, the FBI had gathered information indicating Griffin's possession of images depicting child sexual abuse. In March 2020, a warrant was executed at Griffin's residence, leading to the seizure of electronic devices containing numerous such images. Griffin confessed to using online platforms to access and share these materials, as well as to having discussions about sexual activity with a child.
Investigations into Griffin’s online activity disclosed communications with individuals identified as under 18, where he either sent or solicited child sexual abuse images. Griffin frequently discussed sexual acts with minors online.
In early 2024, a civilian who had been posing as an 11-year-old on Instagram reported that Griffin sent explicit content and discussed sexual encounters with who he thought was a minor.
Acting United States Attorney Richard R. Barker commented, “Mr. Griffin’s conduct was predatory and depraved. He not only trafficked in images of children being sexually abused – he actively sought out opportunities to engage with minors online in ways that were both explicit and dangerous.” Barker praised the FBI and Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca Perez for their effective work in bringing the case to justice.
W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Seattle field office, remarked, “Not only did Mr. Griffin possess and distribute disturbing images depicting child sexual assault, but he was even engaging in sexually explicit chats with someone he believed to be a minor.” He emphasized the FBI's ongoing commitment to protecting and finding justice for child victims, especially as the sentence was announced on the last day of Child Abuse Prevention Month.
This case was part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative started in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to address the increasing issue of child sexual exploitation. The project unites federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute offenders, while also rescuing victims. Additional information about the project can be found at the Department of Justice’s website.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation and the prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca R. Perez.