Dallas man sentenced to 20 years in federal prison on child pornography conviction

DALLAS — A Dallas man was sentenced Friday by U.S. District Judge Sidney A. Fitzwater to 20 years in federal prison for transporting and shipping child pornography.

This sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas. Thi case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Sherman (Texas) Police Department.

According to documents filed in the case, between about Nov. 30 and Dec. 8, 2014, Richard Grayson, 46, of Dallas, used the internet and file-sharing software to share and transmit image and video files depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

Grayson was present when a federal search warrant was executed at his residence Feb. 26, 2015. A forensic analysis of electronic media seized from the residence revealed more than 42 videos and 7,800 images of child pornography on Grayson’s computer and other media. Some of those images and videos he collected depicted sadistic and/or violent content, and some of the files depicted infants and toddlers. Grayson pleaded guilty in February 2016 to one count of transporting and shipping child pornography.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Camille Sparks, Northern District of Texas, was in charge of the prosecution.

This investigation was conducted under HSI’s Operation Predator, an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators. Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 14,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child pornography, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children. In fiscal year 2015, nearly 2,400 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative and more than 1,000 victims identified or rescued.

HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196.

Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.

For additional information about wanted suspected child predators, download HSI’s Operation Predator smartphone app or visit the online suspect alerts page.