Murray, Kentucky Child Predator Sentenced To Life Imprisonment

PADUCAH, Ky. – A Calloway County, Kentucky, man, has been sentenced to life in federal prison by United States Senior Judge Thomas B. Russell, announced U.S. Attorney Russell Coleman.

Jeffrey Desmond Carter, age 41, was convicted by a jury on all 25 counts of production of child pornography, one count of receipt of child pornography, and one count of sex trafficking children in September of 2019.

“The most basic job of government is to keep people safe, especially the most vulnerable, our kids,” said U.S. Attorney Russell Coleman. “This outcome, removal of a child predator from our Commonwealth for life, is an example of, federal, state, and local law enforcement coming together to do just that. I could not be prouder of the federal prosecutor and investigators involved in this case. They represent the very finest in Kentucky law men/women.”

Carter, of Murray, Kentucky, was charged on October 18, 2016, by a federal grand jury with 25 counts of production of child pornography, one count of receipt of child pornography, and one count of sex trafficking children.

According to evidence before the Court, on February 5, 2015, the Calloway County Sheriff’s Department was notified that a 15 year-old female had sent sexually explicit photos and videos of herself to Carter, through a Facebook messenger account under the name of Adam Bryan.  The investigation soon merged with an investigation by the Murray Police Department.

At the same time the Calloway County report was made, another report was being made to the Murray Police Department that a 14-year old girl sent nude images to Carter. Through investigative techniques, Carter was identified and a search warrant was obtained for his Murray, Kentucky, apartment.

A search warrant for Carter’s apartment was executed on February 10, 2015, by law enforcement agents from the Murray Police Department, Calloway County Sheriff’s Department, and Kentucky State Police. A number of items were seized from the residence including electronic devices. Carter was present when the warrant was executed and was taken to the Murray Police Department for questioning. After waiving his Miranda rights, Carter admitted to using the “Adam Bryan” Facebook account and to contacting girls under the age of 18 and requesting nude images and videos from them. Further, Carter admitted to engaging in sexual acts with a number of minor females and to recording those encounters. Carter stated that he would pay money or provide gifts to the minor females in exchange for participating in the sex acts or for sending nude images or videos. In addition to his verbal confession Carter wrote out a confession; in this written confession, Carter specifically named six of the victims listed in the indictment, and provides a description of a seventh.

The Kentucky Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory performed an analysis on the devices seized during the search warrant; in reviewing the reports and data an FBI special agent and other authorities were able to identify at least 12 victims, including those already known to law enforcement.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Seth A. Hancock and was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  In addition to the original investigative agencies including the Murray Police Department, Calloway County Sheriff’s Department, and the Kentucky State Police, assistance in the federal investigation was received from the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department; McCracken County Sheriff’s Department; Metropolis, Illinois Police Department; Murray State University Police Department; and Lotus, formerly the Purchase Area Sexual Assault and Child Advocacy Center.