Couple planned to sexually abuse young girls in Arkansas, but it was a trap, feds say

A couple is going to prison after making plans to sexually abuse two girls in Arkansas, federal officials said.

In 2023, Benjamin Coney, 30, and Emily Grace Brinley, 26, both from Conway, messaged an undercover FBI agent posing as a mom of two girls, according to a Jan. 16 news release by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Arkansas.

Throughout the messages, Coney and Brinley told the agent how they wanted to engage in “sexual activity” with the 4-year-old and 9-year-old girls, according to court documents.

They planned to drive about 180 miles northwest from Conway to Bentonville to abuse the girls, officials said.

When the two arrived at the location, they were met by officers and arrested, prosecutors said.

During a search of their belongings, officials found lubricant and sexual aids in their car, the court document said.

Coney and Brinley were indicted in 2023, and both pleaded guilty to online enticement of a minor, officials said.

McClatchy News reached out to Coney and Brinley’s lawyers on Jan. 20 and was awaiting a response.

On Jan. 15, Coney was sentenced to 17 and a half years in prison followed by 25 years of supervised release, prosecutors said. Brinley was sentenced to 14 years in prison followed by 15 years of supervised release, officials said.

Conway is about a 160-mile drive southeast of Fayetteville.

This story was originally published January 21, 2025 at 1:10 PM with the headline "Couple planned to sexually abuse young girls in Arkansas, but it was a trap, feds say."