Repeat sex offender released from prison, convicted again of child pornography

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – A previously convicted sex offender from Lawrenceville is heading back to prison, according to new court records.

50-year-old Jeffrey Farneski was originally searched by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in 2022. At the time, special agents said they received a tip that he was using a social media app to distribute and receive child pornography. He was already a registered sex offender at the time and was serving a 10-year probationary period.

During the search, officers found disturbing material involving children on his mobile phone. Farneski also allegedly confessed to sending material via the Internet while on probation. He pleaded guilty to more child exploitation crimes and was sent to a Georgia prison.

While Farneski was behind bars, HSI discovered text messages on his phone that showed he was also sexually involved with a Coweta County high school student under the age of 18 while on probation. The texts revealed that he convinced the minor to send him sexually explicit images and meet him at various locations in metro Atlanta to perform sex acts.

While in prison, Farneski allegedly used a smuggled cell phone to stay in touch with the underage student.

In January 2024, two months after being released from state prison, Farneski was arrested again and taken into federal custody by HSI.

He was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy C. Batten Sr. to 15 years in prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release.