A former Toombs County gym owner has been sentenced to over two decades in prison after federal charges were levied against him for child sexual exploitation. Last Thursday, Walter Joey Drew was handed a 327-month sentence for producing and possessing sexually explicit materials involving minors, as reported by The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Georgia. In addition to his prison term, U.S. District Court Judge J. Randall Hall mandated Drew to register as a sex offender, pay a fine and special assessments totaling $2,300, and comply with a 20-year supervised release upon completion of his imprisonment.
The criminal activities uncovered during the investigation revealed that Drew used his position to secretly record minors at his gym and home. In one incident, he was found to have filmed a 13-year-old girl, referred to as Minor Victim 5 in the indictment, while she was nude and unsuspecting of being watched. Drew then took the egregious step to further exploit this child by uploading the illicit images to his iCloud account. This conduct represents a gross violation of trust and an insidious breach of privacy. U.S. Attorney Margaret E. Heap described Drew’s actions as "reprehensible," stating that the effective investigative partnership of law enforcement agencies worked collaboratively to hold Drew accountable for his offensive actions, according to a statement obtained by The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Georgia.
The case presents a stark reminder of the persistent dangers of child sexual exploitation. Chris Hosey, the Director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, remarked, "This case is a disturbing reminder of the lengths predators will go to exploit children." He affirmed the unwavering dedication of the GBI to safeguard vulnerable children and ensure that perpetrators face stringent legal consequences. The investigations leading to the sentencing of Drew were conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason W. Blanchard.
For those who might have additional knowledge about suspected child sexual exploitation, the justice authorities urge contact with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 800-843-5678, or to submit tips through their website.
