Buckeye Reporter

Joseph Gunter, a 41-year-old from Albuquerque, New Mexico, has been sentenced to 28 years in prison for sexually exploiting a minor. U.S. District Judge Charles E. Fleming delivered the sentence after Gunter pled guilty in February to charges related to transporting a minor with the intent of engaging in unlawful sexual activity.

Gunter's sentence includes lifetime supervised release following imprisonment and restitution payments totaling $15,000. This sum is divided between $5,000 to the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Assistance Act and $10,000 to the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act.

The case originated when a 12-year-old girl was reported missing in Ashtabula County on September 21, 2023. Investigation revealed that Gunter had communicated with her via Twitter over several months. Despite attempts by the victim to cease contact by deleting her account, Gunter found her again after she created a new one.

According to court documents, on the day she went missing, Gunter coerced her into his vehicle at gunpoint and transported her across state lines with intentions of sexual exploitation. During their travel back to New Mexico, they stayed in multiple hotels where he assaulted her.

The investigation involved multiple agencies including FBI divisions from Cleveland, Albuquerque, Dallas, Chicago, Little Rock as well as local sheriff's offices from Gray County (Texas) and Ashtabula County (Ohio).

Assistant United States Attorneys Margaret A. Kane and Michael Sullivan prosecuted the case.

For reporting child exploitation cases or tips: visit cybertipline.org or call 1-800-843-5678 any time.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio oversees federal crime prosecution across 40 counties in Ohio from its headquarters in Cleveland and branches in Akron, Toledo, and Youngstown.