First Operation Wolf Pack defendant sentenced to 30 years in prison for distribution of child pornography

FORT WORTH, Texas — United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Ryan Raybould, announced that Jeffrey Don Gesford, 47, was sentenced to 30 years in prison on Aug. 7 for distribution of child pornography. On April 22, Gesford pleaded guilty to an indictment charging him with two counts of distribution of child pornography. Chief U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor imposed a sentence of 360 months per count to run concurrently followed by a life term of supervised release. “This sentence sends an unmistakable message: those who trade in the exploitation of children will face the full force of federal prosecution,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “Every image traded represents a real child who has been victimized, and this office will not tolerate offenders who perpetuate that harm. Our commitment to protecting children is absolute, and we will use every resource at our disposal to bring these predators to justice.” “This sentence reaffirms our commitment to identify and hold accountable those who prey on and exploit our children,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock. “Operation Wolf Pack is another example of how the FBI works together with our law enforcement partners to protect the most vulnerable members of our communities.” According to court documents, from 2025 to 2026, Gesford admitted to trading thousands of images of child pornography while he was living in a transitional center following his prior release from state prison for a possession of child pornography conviction. Gesford was arrested as part of Operation Wolf Pack, a joint law enforcement initiative carried out by the FBI’s Fort Worth Resident Agency and the Fort Worth Police Department, targeting individuals involved in the distribution of child sexual abuse material. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aisha Saleem from the Fort Worth Division prosecuted the case. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative, which was launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, and identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit justice.gov/psc . The Department partners with and oversees funding grants for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which receives and shares tips about possible child sexual exploitation received through its 24/7 hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST and on missingkids.org . ###