Former High School Photographer Indicted For Lying To A Federal Agent and Internet Stalking

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.—Christopher R. Thyer, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, and Raymond R. Parmer, Jr., special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HIS) New Orleans, announced today the indictment of Christian Trey Ashcraft, the owner of Ashven photography and former photographer of high school students and activities in the Pine Bluff, Arkansas area.

The two-count Indictment, returned by a federal Grand Jury on January 5, 2016, charges Ashcraft, 40, of Pine Bluff, with one count of lying to a federal agent and one count of internet stalking.

Ashcraft appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Beth Deere today. A trial is scheduled for February 22, 2016, in front of United States District Judge Kristine G. Baker.

The charges in the Indictment are based on an investigation that began in August 2014, when a minor disclosed to the Maumelle Police Department that Seth Ganahl had previously asked her to engage in illicit sexual activity on multiple occasions. Execution of a search warrant on Ganahl’s email account revealed that he was emailing with the user of fun_e_gurl_2000@yahoo.com, who was purporting to be a 15-year-old minor female. During the email exchange, Ganahl repeatedly asked the user of fun_e_gurl_2000@yahoo.com to send him sexually explicit photographs.

Ganahl was indicted by a federal Grand Jury in the Eastern District of Arkansas on February 4, 2015, and is currently scheduled for trial on June 27, 2016.

During the investigation, agents developed information that led them to believe that Ashcraft was the real user of fun_e_gurl_2000@yahoo.com. Agents interviewed Ashcraft on December 30, 2014, and he denied being the user of fun_e_gurl_2000@yahoo.com.

On January 13, 2015, agents obtained a federal search warrant for fun_e_gurl_2000@yahoo.com. Law enforcement analysis of the contents of this account indicated that Ashcraft communicated with multiple individuals while posing as young teenage girls.

Agents also observed that Ashcraft, using fun_e_gurl_2000@yahoo.com, sent sexually explicit photographs of an adult female—while posing as this female—to at least two individuals over a significant period of time.

Agents again interviewed Ashcraft on April 1, 2015, at which time he admitted that he was the user of email account fun_e_gurl_2000@yahoo.com.

"The internet continues to be the weapon of choice for many individuals because they believe it provides them anonymity," Thyer said. "This case demonstrates that law enforcement and the United States Attorney’s Office will track down individuals who abuse the internet for their own deviant purposes, and that these people will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

"Lying to a federal agent is a serious crime that carries significant penalties," said Parmer Jr. "While revenge porn legislation is under debate in many states, the facts of this particular case are already covered under federal stalking laws. Not only were these actions distasteful, they were criminal, and HSI will continue to investigate and seek prosecution of cyber crimes as one of its highest priorities. "

Lying to a federal agent, a violation of 18 U.S.C.§ 1001(a)(2), carries a penalty of not more than five years imprisonment, not more than three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.

Internet stalking, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2261A(2)(B), carries a penalty of not more than five years imprisonment, not more than three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. This investigation was conducted by the Arkansas State Police and HSI. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kristin Bryant.

An indictment contains only allegations. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.