Wyoming man investigated by HSI receives 150-year prison term for producing child pornography

CASPER, Wyo. — Ray Donald Farley, 38, alias Ray Donald Lucero, Jr., of Wyoming, was sentenced March 1 to 150 years in prison for three counts of the production of child pornography.

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Wyoming Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation investigated the case.

During the sentencing, the Honorable Nancy D. Freudenthal stated that Farley’s conduct was “reprehensible” and “unforgivable” and sentenced him to 50 years, per count, consecutively, totaling 150 years of imprisonment. Farley was remanded to the Bureau of Prisons in the District of Wyoming.

“Farley is a very real danger to children. He was convicted and sentenced for sexually abusing children for the second time. He previously spent 3½ years in state prison for sexually abusing one child, and now he will spend the rest of his life in federal prison,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bob Murray.

In March 2020, special agents from HSI and the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation received cybertips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children informing them that Ray Farley and Conner William Biggs Farley may be producing child pornography.

Special agents swiftly investigated and learned that from August 2019 through March 2020, Farley and his husband, Conner Farley, sexually abused three children, ages 7, 5, and 1. Agents arrested both men April 16, 2020 in Casper.

Over the course of the investigation, it was found that both men recorded their sexual abuse of the children and produced multiple still and video images of such abuse. These images were shared with Richard Thomas Willden, 29, of Casper.

“Farley and Willden belong in federal prison where they no longer have access to children. I am thankful for Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy Forwood and Christyne Martens, who take on these challenging cases and fight for the child victims. No child should ever suffer at the hands of pedophiles nor endure abuse in silence. Our local, state, and federal law enforcement officers are working day and night to protect Wyoming’s children. I commend the work of HSI and the Wyoming DCI in this case, and I assure you we will all continue to bring child predators to justice,” Murray said.

Willden was sentenced Feb. 24 to more than 10 years of imprisonment for receiving and possessing the images.

Conner Farley pleaded guilty Dec. 14 to three counts of production of child pornography and is set to be sentenced later this month.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), PSC brings together federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.

HSI is the principal investigative arm of DHS and a vital U.S. asset in combatting transnational crime and threats. One of HSI’s top priorities is to protect the public from crimes of victimization, and HSI’s child exploitation investigations program is a central component of this mission set. HSI is recognized as a global leader in this investigative discipline, and is committed to utilizing its vast authorities, international footprint and strong government and non-government partnerships to identify and rescue child victims, identify and apprehend offenders, prevent transnational child sexual abuse, and help make the internet a safer place for children.

To report a crime, call 866-347-2423 (TTY for hearing impaired: 802-872-6196).