Garrett Gayoso, 25, a former Cherokee County Sheriff’s deputy, was sentenced this week to 222 months (18 years and 6 months) in federal prison after pleading guilty to producing child sexual abuse material involving a 16-year-old girl from Fall River, Massachusetts.
Gayoso entered his guilty plea in March 2026 to one count of production of child pornography in U.S. District Court. He was sentenced on or around June 29–30, 2026. In addition to the prison term, he will serve 10 years of supervised release following his incarceration. As part of the sentence, Gayoso must register as a sex offender and may be ordered to pay restitution to the victim.
According to court records and investigative findings, Gayoso met the 16-year-old victim online in August 2024 on a website intended for adults 18 and older. The victim disclosed her age early in their communications, but Gayoso continued the contact. Over the following months, he groomed and coerced the minor into producing sexually explicit images and videos and sending them to him via text message.
Between August 17, 2024, and January 8, 2025—with some communications continuing afterward—the pair exchanged more than 24,000 text messages. These included at least 119 images and videos depicting the minor nude or engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Gayoso also sent sexually explicit messages to the victim and traveled from Kansas to Massachusetts to engage in sexual activity with her in person.
The victim’s mother discovered the explicit communications and content on the girl’s devices in April 2025, which prompted the investigation.
On April 28, 2025, Fall River police notified the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office after determining the suspect was one of their deputies. Gayoso was immediately placed on administrative leave and resigned from the department in May 2025.
