Gilmer County vendor arrested for AI-generated child exploitation images

A vendor who serviced vending machines at Gilmer High School has been arrested on multiple counts of child sexual exploitation after a student reported him for inappropriate behavior, according to the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office.

What we know:

The investigation began on Dec. 3, 2024, when a student told a school resource officer (SRO) that Ronald Richardson, a vendor who regularly refilled the school’s vending machines, had asked her to send him pictures through a social media app. The student, who said she had spoken with Richardson for about a year and had received free soft drinks from him in the past, felt the request was inappropriate and reported it to authorities.

The SRO alerted the school administration and forwarded the information to the sheriff’s office’s Criminal Investigations Division, which launched an inquiry that remains active.

Richardson has since been charged with multiple counts of possessing child sexual exploitation materials, with authorities anticipating additional charges. He remains in jail as the investigation continues.

What they're saying:

Sheriff Stacy Nicholson noted that this case marks the first time artificial intelligence (AI) has played a role in such an investigation in Gilmer County. Authorities allege that Richardson obtained normal images of minors from social media and then used AI technology to alter them, making the subjects appear nude.

"We have intentionally delayed releasing information about this case because it is still very active," Nicholson said in a statement. "It has taken a lot of time to identify many of the minors who are victims in this case, and there are several minors and parents we have not yet been able to notify."

The Gilmer County School System also released a statement:

The Gilmer County School System has partnered with the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office to support the investigation of Ronald Richardson regarding reports to law enforcement from our school administrators.

The Gilmer County School System will continue to cooperate fully with the investigation and commends the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office for their professionalism and dedication to this effort. At this time, we are unable to release any specific details of this ongoing investigation.

Further information concerning this case will be released through the GCSO.

Mr. Richardson is not an employee of the Gilmer County School System.

What you can do:

Officials expect to contact all victims and their families within the next 48 hours. Authorities are urging anyone with potentially relevant information to contact Detective Dan Farnham at the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division at 706-635-4646.

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