NH Man Gets 70 Months In Prison For Cyberstalking, Child Porn

CONCORD, NH — A New Hampshire man was sentenced to nearly six years in prison after targeting a boy online and possessing child pornography. Brandon Gray, 22, of New Hampton, was sentenced in federal court on Dec. 11, 2017, to 70 months in prison as well as 15 years of supervised release at the end of his sentence for cyberstalking a teenage boy online and collecting explicit photos and videos of the boy. Gray, according to the court, created a fake online identity and pretended to be the brother of Miley Cyrus. Between 2014, and 2016, he befriended a boy from Louisiana, who later sent him the pictures.

“Eventually, the child discovered that the online persona was fake and attempted to stop communicating with the defendant,” according to acting-U.S. Attorney John J. Farley. “The defendant responded by sending him harassing texts, emails, and chats over various social media outlets including messages threatening to post pornographic images of the child online.”

Investigators in two states began looking into the case and identified Gray as a suspect. A search warrant of his home led to investigators finding the child pornography. Gray later admitted to using the alias, possessing the photos of the boy, and threatening him.

“Keeping the Internet safe for children is one of the highest priorities of my office,” Farley noted. “I commend the collaboration between the Louisiana State Police and Homeland Security Investigations personnel in New Hampshire in locating and bringing this individual to justice. Cyber predators cannot hide behind a computer screen. When their actions cause real harm, there will be real consequences.”

Image via New Hampton Police.