JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Miami man has been sentenced to more than two decades in prison for production and attempted production of child sexual abuse materials using hidden cameras following a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Jacksonville and the Northeast Florida Inter-agency Child Exploitation and Persons Trafficking (INTERCEPT) Task Force investigation.
Gray Edward Rivera, 46, was sentenced to 21 years and 10 months in federal prison and will also be required to serve a 10-year period of supervised release. He was found guilty by a jury on Sept. 5, 2024.
“This predator’s use of hidden cameras to spy on a child in intimate areas in her own home is a heinous violation of trust and privacy,” said HSI Jacksonville Assistant Special Agent in Charge Tim Hemker. “Thanks to the diligent efforts of the Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force, and the protective nature of the victim’s mother, this predator will now spend more than two decades behind bars for his appalling actions. This investigation underscores our commitment to protecting vulnerable individuals and pursuing justice for those who seek to exploit and harm children.”
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Rivera gifted three items — a Bluetooth speaker, calendar/clock, and a USB charging tower — containing hidden cameras to a child and set them up in the child’s bedroom. In addition, a hidden camera smoke detector was discovered in the living room area. Those cameras were later discovered by the child’s mother, and she contacted the Clay County Sheriff’s Office. Rivera was out of the country at the time.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office partnered with HSI Jacksonville and obtained Rivera’s cell phones when he re-entered the United States via a border search. A review of Rivera’s cell phones resulted in the discovery of 14 files containing child sexual abuse material of the child, as well as phone activity related to the use of the app for controlling the hidden cameras. Records obtained by law enforcement showed that Rivera had purchased three of the hidden cameras online.
This case was investigated by the Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force, to include HSI Jacksonville, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Washington.
The Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force is a unique partnership that takes a collaborative and coordinated approach to work together at all three levels of government, alongside private sector partners, to rescue children from sexual exploitation. The Northeast Florida INTERCEPT is a unique public–private partnership where nonprofit organizations provide financial, technical, and other resources to regional law enforcement partners dedicated to the fight against human trafficking and child exploitation. Support from Operation Light Shine, and partner donors like the Tim Tebow Foundation, allow law enforcement agencies to better serve the Northeast Florida communities and the many victims of human trafficking and child exploitation. The collaborative approach of bringing together the experience and expertise of local, state, and federal law enforcement professionals greatly enhances the ability to combat the many difficulties and challenges presented by the complexities of child exploitation and human trafficking investigations.
Members of the Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force consist of members with HSI Jacksonville, Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, Nassau County Sheriff’s Office, Duval County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Attorney with the Middle District of Florida Roger Handberg, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
For more information about internet safety education, please visit Department of Homeland Security’s Know2Protect.
HSI Tampa’s area of responsibility, which includes 10 geographically strategic offices, covers more than 51,600 square miles of the total 65,757 square miles in the state of Florida. This region has more than 14.2 million people and includes 58 of the 67 counties. HSI Tampa also includes five of the 10 largest cities in Florida, 15 primary commercial service airports, and 11 seaports.
To report information about human trafficking, child sexual abuse or the trafficking in child sexual abuse material, contact the HSI Tip Line at 877-4-HSI-TIP. Reports may also be sent through the CyberTipline on the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children's website, or by calling 1-800-THE-LOST. To report to law enforcement in the Jacksonville area, call First Coast Crime Stoppers at 866-845-TIPS. Callers may remain anonymous.
Learn more about HSI Tampa’s mission to increase public safety in Florida communities on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @HSITampa.