Gregory Scott Stephen, 43, sentenced to 180 years in prison for child exploitation and child pornography charges
In a shocking case of child exploitation, Gregory Scott Stephen, the former co-director of Barnstormers Basketball of Iowa, was sentenced to 180 years in federal prison. The maximum statutory penalty was handed down by United States Northern District of Iowa Judge C.J. Williams on May 2, 2019.
Stephen, a former youth basketball coach, pleaded guilty on October 18, 2018, to five counts of sexual exploitation of a child, one count of possession of child pornography, and one count of transportation of child pornography.
The judge described Stephen as a “hands-on sexual abuser of children” who “exploited, manipulated, and abused children for almost two decades.” The harm caused to the victims was deemed “incalculable and profound.”
Stephen’s crimes involved secretly recording victims while they were nude, tricking victims into sending him sexually explicit images and videos by impersonating a minor female online, and photographing victims’ genitals while they slept.
The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Monticello Police Department investigated the matter. This case was prosecuted by Southern District of Iowa Assistant United States Attorneys Clifford Cronk and Amy Jennings.
United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum praised the victims who came forward to tell their stories, stating, “Your courage is inspiring.” The significant sentence imposed today reflects the enormity of Stephen’s crimes.
Key Facts
- State: Iowa
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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