VALDOSTA, Ga. – A Georgia couple has pleaded guilty to producing child pornography.
Jayson E. Wright, 35, of Valdosta, pleaded guilty to two counts of production of child pornography before U.S. District Judge Louis S. Sands on Oct. 28. Co-defendant Kara Wright, 32, of Valdosta, pleaded guilty before Judge Sands to one count of production of child pornography on June 10. Both defendants face a mandatory minimum sentence of fifteen years up to a maximum sentence of thirty years imprisonment to be followed by no less than five years up to a lifetime of supervised release and a $250,000 fine on each count. In addition, both defendants will have to register as a sex offender for life upon release from prison. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 24.
“Jayson Wright and his wife committed heinous and unthinkable acts upon innocent children and did so repeatedly over a number of years. We will seek a sentence commensurate with the egregious conduct involved in this case,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will hold Jayson and Kara Wright–along with all child predators–fully accountable for exploiting and victimizing the most vulnerable.”
“Wright will now answer for his years-long pattern of abuse and exploitation thanks to great work by HSI and its law enforcement partners,” said Special Agent in Charge Katrina W. Berger, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in Georgia and Alabama.
“This case is another example demonstrating the success of the close working relationship between the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office and the federal agencies that allow us to take really bad people off the streets. To the victims in this case—I hope that knowing that people do care and will work for justice will help bring them some peace of mind,” said Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk.
According to court documents, Jayson and Kara Wright exploited and manipulated children to engage in sexually explicit acts which were filmed or photographed. Information gathered during the investigation uncovered that Jayson Wright was involved in the Valdosta area Boy Scouts of America from Aug. 2015 until Aug. 2020. Parents and guardians of children whose children may have come into contact with Jayson or Kara Wright are encouraged to contact the following hotlines to share any concerns related to this investigation:
Homeland Security Investigations Tip Line: 866-DHS-2-ICE
Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office, Investigations Division: (229) 671-2950
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The case was investigated by the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn Semales is prosecuting the case with support from Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Kalim.
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