In Chattanooga, Tennessee, Dennis Allen Gaal, aged 50, was sentenced to 25 years in prison on February 21, 2025. The sentencing was conducted by United States District Judge Travis R. McDonough in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. Following his time in prison, Gaal will be placed on supervised release for life, required to register with state sex offender registries, and adhere to special sex offender conditions during his supervised release.
Gaal, a registered sex offender from Mississippi, pled guilty to a charge of interstate travel for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2423(b). In December 2023, he traveled to Chattanooga intending to sexually molest a 10-month-old child. Unbeknownst to him, the individual he communicated with online was an FBI Special Agent posing as a person with access to the child. Gaal described the potential abuse as “a dream come true” in his discussions with the undercover agent. Upon his arrival in Chattanooga, with gifts intended for the child, he was promptly arrested and has been in custody since.
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Francis M. Hamilton III, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee, expressed the gravity of the crime, stating that “the facts are outrageous and disturbing.” The FBI, in association with local law enforcement, remains dedicated to identifying and prosecuting sexual predators, as emphasized by Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office.
The investigation leading to Gaal’s arrest was conducted by the FBI, with Special Agent Samuel Moore taking the lead. The United States was represented by Assistant United States Attorney James T. Brooks and Special Assistant United States Attorney Charlie Minor from the Hamilton County District Attorney’s Office.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative coordinates federal, state, and local resources to prosecute individuals exploiting children and rescue victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.justice.gov/psc. For resources on internet safety education, visit www.justice.gov/psc/resources.html and click on the “resources” tab.
Source: Read Original Release
Murfreesboro Man Sentenced for Sexual Crimes
Immanuel Webb, a 39-year-old man from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, has been sentenced to 16 years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of rape and one count of attempted rape. The plea agreement led to the dismissal of several additional charges. The case involved three victims who reported being assaulted while unconscious. Webb must register as a sex offender for life and cover all court costs.