Jeffrey Farneski, a 50-year-old repeat sex offender, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to enticing a child to produce child pornography.

The Details: U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan labeled Farneski a “serial predator” who took advantage of social media to lure a teenager into a web of sexual exploitation.

In January 2022, special agents from Homeland Security Investigations conducted a search of Farneski’s Lawrenceville residence after discovering he was distributing child pornography online. At the time, he was a registered sex offender on a 10-year probation term. During the search, agents found explicit material on his cell phone and confirmed that he had violated the terms of his probation by distributing illegal content.

By The Numbers: After pleading guilty to additional child exploitation crimes, Farneski had his probation revoked and was returned to state prison. While incarcerated, agents reviewed text messages revealing that he had cultivated a sexual relationship with a Coweta County high school student. This teenager was under 18 when their communications began in a social media chat group.

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Farneski persuaded the student to send sexually explicit images and arranged in-person meetings to engage in sexual acts. After his return to state prison, Farneski continued to use contraband cell phones to maintain contact with her.

Farneski was convicted of enticement of a minor and handed the 15-year sentence by Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy C. Batten, Sr. This conviction includes a lifetime of supervised release.