A Florida man has been sentenced to over two decades in federal prison for using hidden cameras to produce child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Gray Edward Rivera, 46, of Miami, was found guilty by a jury in September 2024 and received his sentence on Tuesday from U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger. Rivera will serve 21 years and 10 months in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release.
According to evidence presented at trial, Rivera gifted a child several items containing hidden cameras, including a Bluetooth speaker, a calendar/clock, and a USB charging tower.
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He then placed these items in the child’s bedroom. A hidden camera disguised as a smoke detector was also discovered in the living room.
The child’s mother discovered the hidden cameras and immediately contacted the Clay County Sheriff’s Office. Rivera was out of the country at the time, but upon his return, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) partnered with the Sheriff’s Office to obtain his cell phones through a border search.
A forensic examination of Rivera’s phones revealed 14 files containing child sexual abuse material of the child, as well as evidence of him using an app to control the hidden cameras.
Records confirmed that Rivera had purchased three of the hidden cameras online.
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“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 Tim Hemker, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Jacksonville Assistant Special Agent in Charge. “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.”
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