New Mexico Man Sentenced to 28 Years in Prison for Sexually Exploiting 12-Year-Old Ohio Girl

CLEVELAND – Joseph Gunter, 41, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, has been sentenced to 28 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Charles E. Fleming, after pleading guilty in February to driving more than 1,600 miles from New Mexico to Ohio to sexually exploit a child and to transporting a minor with intent to engage in unlawful sexual activity. Gunter was also ordered to serve lifetime supervised release after imprisonment and to pay restitution in the amount of $5,000 to the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Assistance Act, which was established in 2018 to provide monetary assistance for victims of child sexual abuse. In addition, he was ordered to pay $10,000 to the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, which was established in 2015 to provide justice for victims of trafficking. Judge Fleming imposed the sentence June 30.

According to court documents, on the morning of Sept. 21, 2023, a 12-year-old female was reported missing to local authorities in Ashtabula County. An interview with one witness revealed that the victim had been communicating with a person from Albuquerque, whom investigators were able to later identify as Gunter. Through a series of intensive and investigative efforts among, state, local, and federal agencies, Gunter’s vehicle was located in Gray County, Texas. Officers there conducted a traffic stop and found the victim in his car. Two firearms were also located inside the vehicle.

In the original complaint and underlying affidavit, investigators learned that Gunter had been communicating with the victim through the Twitter cellphone application for a number of months. At one point, the 12-year-old deleted her account in an attempt to stop all communications with him. However, when she set up a new account, he found her soon thereafter and they became in contact again. The victim indicated that as she was out for a walk on the morning she was reported missing, Gunter had driven up next to her and threatened her with a gun if she didn’t get into his vehicle. He then transported the minor victim out of state with the intention of engaging in sexual activity with her. On the drive back to his home in New Mexico, they stayed in several hotels where he proceeded to physically assault and repeatedly rape her.

This multi-state investigation was conducted by the FBI Cleveland Division, FBI Albuquerque, FBI Dallas, FBI Chicago, FBI Little Rock, Gray County (Texas) Sheriff’s Office, and the Ashtabula (Ohio) County Sheriff’s Office.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Margaret A. Kane and Michael Sullivan.

To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.org, or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

About the Northern District of Ohio

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio covers the 40 northern-most counties in the state of Ohio, which is home to nearly six million people. The office operates from its main headquarters in Cleveland, with additional branches in Akron, Toledo, and Youngstown. The U.S. Attorney serves as the chief federal law enforcement officer in the District and oversees the prosecution of federal crimes and protects victims’ rights.