Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News
FAYETTEVILLE – On January 15, 2025, Benjamin Coney, age 30, and Emily Grace Brinley, age 26, both of Conway, Arkansas, were sentenced to a combined 378 months in prison without the possibility of parole after being found guilty of Online Enticement of a Minor in violation of federal law. The Honorable Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing, which was held in the U.S. District Court in Fayetteville.
According to court documents, in November of 2023, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, along with the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, began an undercover investigation targeting online predators seeking minors for sexual activity. Between November 19, 2023, to November 27, 2023, a male and female couple, later identified as Coney and Brinley, messaged an undercover FBI officer posing as the mother of two young girls. In messages sent by the couple, they detailed their intended abuse of the two young girls and arranged to drive from Conway to Bentonville to engage in the sexual acts. When the couple arrived at the pre-arranged meeting location, they were met by law enforcement officers and immediately taken into custody. Among the items located in their vehicle were sexual aides and lubricant.
Coney and Brinley were indicted by a Grand Jury in the Western District of Arkansas in May of 2024. Benjamin Coney entered a plea of guilty in September of 2023 and was sentenced to 210 months imprisonment to be followed by 25 years of supervision. Emily Grace Brinley entered a plea of guilty in July of 2023 and was sentenced to 168 months to be followed by 15 years of supervision.
U.S. Attorney Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Benton County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyler Williams prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website at www.pacer.gov.