Tahlequah man sentenced to federal prison for child sex abuse and exploitation

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that a Tahlequah man was sentenced to prison for nine separate counts of child sex abuse crimes, eight separate counts of child sexual exploitation crimes, and one count of a firearm offense.

Gregory Neil Bias, 41, was sentenced to 30 years for the crimes; 360 months for aggravated sexual abuse; 360 months for sexual exploitation; and 360 months for child exploitation of a child by a parent. He was also sentenced 240 months for possession of certain material involving the sexual exploitation of a minor, 240 months for receipt of certain material involving the sexual exploitation of a minor, 240 months for distribution of certain material involving the sexual exploitation of a minor, 240 months for possession of certain material involving the sexual exploitation of a minor, and 120 months for illegal possession of a firearm. The sentences are to be served concurrently.

The charges against Bias arose after a probe by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

According to reports, The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children alerted authorities that a Tahlequah-area resident was exchanging electronic files containing images of child sexual abuse. Bias was arrested January 2022. Authorities uncovered multiple depictions of sexual abuse perpetrated by Bias and his roommate, Leiloni Blake Smith, 30, on two children.

Bias was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2022 of aggravated sexual abuse, sexual exploitation of a child, distributing, receiving, and possessing sexual abuse materials, and felon in possession of a firearm. Smith was found guilty of eight counts aggravated child sexual abuse, two counts of sexual exploitation of a child, two counts of sexual exploitation of a child by a parent, and one-count of possession of certain material involving the sexual exploitation of a minor.

“Gregory Neil Bias committed heinous crimes against innocent and vulnerable children, and his sentence marks a significant step in bringing a measure of justice for his victims, and making our communities safer,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “This case was the product of the great collaborative work done by federal prosecutors and OSBI, HSI, and FBI agents to ensure that child predators have no place to hide.”  

Honorable Judge Ronald A. White presided over the hearing and Bias was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Edith A. Singer prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources”.