Georgia man sentenced to 40 years for creating AI child sexual abuse material
A former school vendor in Gilmer County, Georgia was sentenced to 40 years in prison after being convicted on 118 counts of sexual exploitation of children. Authorities discovered that Ronald Richardson used AI programs to generate sexual abuse images and videos from normal photographs of more than 150 victims, many of them students in the Gilmer County Schools.
What happened
Ronald Richardson, a former vendor who stocked drink machines in Gilmer County Schools, was convicted on 118 counts of sexual exploitation of children after authorities discovered he used AI programs to generate sexual abuse material from normal photographs of victims.
The images and videos uncovered by prosecutors included sexual abuse content of more than 150 victims, many of whom were identified as students in Gilmer County Schools.
Reported impact
Nineteen victims gave impact statements at the sentencing hearing in Ellijay, according to the DeKalb County District Attorney's Office.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.