Decatur, Georgia resident Emanuel Gray, 22, is headed to federal prison for 20 years after being convicted of producing child pornography and cyberstalking two teenage girls he met through social media apps. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Judge Steve C. Jones, includes five years of supervised release and lifetime registration as a sex offender. Gray was found guilty by a federal jury on July 14, 2021, following a trial that exposed a calculated, predatory campaign against vulnerable minors.
Between May 2017 and November 2018, Gray used platforms like Kik and Snapchat to target at least two teenage girls, coercing them into sending sexually explicit images and videos. When one victim—just 14 at the time—ended what she believed was a relationship, Gray retaliated with threats and harassment, demanding more explicit material. He threatened to post her nude photos on her high school band’s Facebook page, then followed through in an attempt to humiliate and silence her.
The second victim, 16 at the time, suffered a nearly identical ordeal. Gray bombarded her with threats, created fake Instagram accounts to impersonate and expose her, and posted explicit content on her school’s Facebook page. Both girls testified that Gray gave explicit instructions during video chats, including demands that they masturbate on camera. His manipulation escalated into digital blackmail once they tried to end contact.
“Gray stalked and threatened his victims after they rebuffed his demands,” said U.S. Attorney Kurt R. Erskine. “He terrorized these girls by threatening to post their photographs online if they did not comply. A jury has held Gray accountable for his inexcusable crimes, and he will now serve time in prison.”
Special Agent in Charge Chris Hacker of the FBI Atlanta Field Office emphasized the broader danger: “The facts of this case are disturbing but unfortunately all too common. This sentencing sends a message to Gray and any other predators that the FBI will go to any length to bring child predators to justice. We would like to remind the community to remain vigilant with online relationships and to never send compromising images of yourself to anyone, no matter who they say they are.”
Gray was charged with two counts of producing child pornography, two counts of cyberstalking, and one count of possession of child pornography. The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with support from police departments in Schulenburg, Texas, and Villa Rica, Georgia. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alex R. Sistla and L. Skye Davis. It was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a federal initiative launched in 2006 to combat online child exploitation. For more information, visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Key Facts
- State: Georgia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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