Man exploits 16-year-old over Instagram, then flees his trial in CA, feds say
A California man accused of sexually exploiting a 16-year-old girl over Instagram hasn’t returned to federal court after prosecutors say he took off his ankle monitor and fled during trial.
While Gregory Cole Jr., of Los Angeles County, was absent from the courtroom, he was found guilty of child sexual abuse material charges on April 10, according to an April 11 news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.
Cole, a 30-year-old Lancaster resident, was convicted of production of child pornography, enticement of a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity, and receipt of child pornography, the U.S. Attorney’s Office says.
He’s “believed to be a fugitive,” prosecutors say.
Cole’s defense attorneys, Karen L. Goldstein and Marc Andre Gibbons, didn’t immediately return McClatchy News’ request for comment April 14.
U.S. District Judge Percy Anderson has issued a bench warrant for Cole, clearing the way for authorities to apprehend him, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Background of the case
In April 2024, the 16-year-old girl’s mother found sexually explicit photos and videos that Cole had messaged her daughter on Instagram, then contacted authorities, according to federal court filings.
In their Instagram direct messages, she also saw that her daughter shared explicit photos with Cole, whose username was “yahknolove,” prosecutors wrote in court documents.
The mother “was concerned that (her daughter) was being groomed and that ‘yahknolove’ might be a sex trafficker,” court filings say.
An investigation revealed Cole enticed the teen to create and share sexual content of herself in March and April 2024, according to prosecutors.
Cole also “demanded” images from the teen, authorities found while reviewing his Instagram account.
Cole “sent her pornography of adult women in poses he wanted the victim to photograph herself in for him, which the victim did,” prosecutors say.
After the girl’s mother learned of the messages, Cole deleted his Instagram, according to prosecutors.
Sentencing hearing
In July 2024, Cole was indicted in the case, court filings show.
Following his indictment, the government asked the court to detain Cole ahead of trial for two reasons.
In a request for his pre-trial detention, prosecutors wrote “no condition or combination of conditions will reasonably assure” that Cole would appear in court as well as the “safety of any other person and the community.”
On July 16, Cole pleaded not guilty at arraignment and had his bail set at $50,000, court records show. He was issued an appearance bond.
The judge revoked his bond following his conviction, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Cole’s sentencing hearing is set for June 23, court records show.
He’s “ordered to appear for sentencing without further notice or order from the Court,” reads a docket entry dated April 11.
Cole faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and could be sentenced to up to life in prison, according to prosecutors.
Suspected child exploitation can be reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s CyberTipline online or by calling 1-800-843-5678.
This story was originally published April 14, 2025 at 11:28 AM with the headline "Man exploits 16-year-old over Instagram, then flees his trial in CA, feds say."
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