A 35-year-old Warren man is in federal custody after prosecutors say he sought, received and stored videos of child sexual abuse, including clips they allege show boys as young as five. Court filings reviewed by reporters state that messaging exchanges, file transfers and location records linked the alleged activity to a phone number associated with the suspect. The case is moving forward in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.
According to Macomb Daily, the defendant is identified in court documents as Danthony Jajuan Ray, 35, of Warren. The outlet reports that Ray was arraigned on federal counts of receiving and possessing child pornography and faces statutory penalties that include prison time if he is convicted.
Allegations in court filings
Court records summarized by Macomb Daily allege that between March and June 2025 Ray received dozens of videos, at least 70 in total, and that some of the material showed boys as young as five. Investigators say an initial distributor sent at least 12 videos that met the federal definition of child pornography. Messages in the group chats reportedly included blunt phrases such as "like 5" and "I love seeing grown men touch on little boys."
How investigators say they built the case
Investigators say records from a messaging app linked the original distributor to a phone number and username tied to Ray. According to the filings, agents began receiving device-related location data connected to that number in May 2026. Combined with AT&T Wi‑Fi calling records, the data allegedly placed the device most frequently near a Warren address and a workplace in Livonia. Agents reported repeatedly seeing a black Buick Encore registered to Ray parked at the Warren home.
Law enforcement often relies on carrier call-detail and Wi‑Fi location records to track where a device has been, although the legal standards and accuracy of those data can vary depending on the case and the type of record involved. LegalClarity outlines typical practices and rules for obtaining and using such records in court.
Legal process and penalties
Court filings state that Ray's preliminary examination has been adjourned to July 20, 2026, while the federal case continues. Under federal law, crimes involving the receipt or distribution of child pornography can carry lengthy prison terms. First-time convictions for those offenses generally come with statutory maximum sentences of up to 20 years, while simple possession has a lower maximum, as detailed by the Legal Information Institute.
Federal enforcement context
The case arrives during an intensified federal campaign against online child exploitation. In May, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Detroit announced the results of a nationwide operation that identified hundreds of victims and led to multiple arrests in the Eastern District of Michigan. The U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Michigan said the coordinated effort was part of a broader crackdown on child sex-related crimes.
The charges against Ray remain allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless and until prosecutors prove the case in court. The federal docket will guide the next steps as prosecutors and defense counsel prepare for upcoming pretrial proceedings.
