JACKSONVILLE – U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger sentenced Gray Edward Rivera, 46, of Miami, to 21 years and 10 months in federal prison for production and attempted production of child sexual abuse materials. Once Rivera is released from prison, he will be required to serve 10 years of supervised release. Gray Edward Rivera was found guilty by a jury on Sept. 5.

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 when he was living in Orange Park. In addition, a hidden camera smoke detector was discovered in the living room area. The child’s mother later found those cameras and contacted the Clay County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO). Rivera was out of the country at the time. 

The CCSO partnered with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) 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. 

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated the case, which was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Washington.

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit justice.gov/psc.