NASHVILLE, TN to CAMILLUS, NY - In an era where artificial intelligence can generate hyper-realistic imagery from just a few keystrokes, a disturbing national trend has rapidly emerged. Law enforcement agencies across the United States are sounding the alarm as predators increasingly turn to generative AI tools to create, possess, and distribute child sexual abuse material (CSAM). To warn parents of just how prolific the use of AI-generated material is on the modern "dark side" of the web, WGNS is highlighting two arrests that occurred 800 miles apart—one in New York and the other right here in Middle Tennessee.
The Middle Tennessee Investigation - In Middle Tennessee, the Metro Nashville Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit executed a search warrant at the residence of Jerry Dubose II. The 47-year-old has been charged with sexual exploitation of a minor after investigators linked him to the generation of AI abuse material.
Detectives allege that Dubose used Grok AI, a generative chatbot developed by Elon Musk’s xAI, to create graphic images. Grok, like many modern AI applications, allows users to input text prompts or upload existing photos to generate new, synthetic illustrations and videos.
The investigation was triggered by multiple CyberTips submitted to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Investigators believe Dubose’s illicit online activity began in September 2025 and continued through March 2026. Much like the suspect in a seperate case 800-miles northeast of Middle Tennessee, Dubose has a prior record that fits a disturbing profile: he was previously convicted of indecent exposure involving two female victims, ages 4 and 10.
The New York Arrest - Four days prior to the Nashville arrest, authorities in Camillus, New York, arrested Chad R. Snow, a basketball coach whose program serves athletes ranging from young juveniles to college students. Snow was charged with promoting a sexual performance by a child and possession of a sexual performance by a child.
The investigation revealed that Snow possessed AI-generated pornographic images of females ranging in age from 14 to 30. Detectives also uncovered an AI-manipulated image featuring a teenager who was beleived to be only 12 years old when the original, non-sexual photo was allegedly taken.
Similar to the Middle Tennessee arrest on Monday, this was not the first time the New York coach had a brush with the law involving minors. In March 2010, the former physical education teacher was apprehended for sexual contact with a 14-year-old girl, resulting in a conviction for misdemeanor forcible touching. Despite this history, Snow allegedly continued to market his coaching services through a website that prominently featured photos of players ranging from young children to young adults.
A National Warning for Parents - According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), the agency received 485,000 reports of AI-generated child sexual abuse material in the first half of 2025 alone. This figure amounts to at least a 13% incease when compared to 2024. The total number of reports received by the organization for the full year of 2025 has not yet been released.
John Shehan of NCMEC noted the expanding scope of the problem last year, stating, “About 35 tech companies now report AI-generated images of child sexual abuse to NCMEC.”
The FBI and Department of Justice are urging parents to be extremely cautious about the "digital footprint" they create for their children. Even seemingly innocent family portraits or sports photos posted to social media can be captured by voyeurs and fed into AI software to create "deepfake" abuse material.
In cases involving minors, both agencies warn: "AI-generated CSAM is not a victimless crime." According to an FBI public service announcement, AI-generated images that use the likeness of a real child can create permanent digital abuse that haunts a victim for a lifetime.
Law enforcement agencies nationwide report a surge in content manipulation technologies used to create hyper-realistic, sexually explicit media. These sophisticated "deepfake" depictions allow predators to transform innocent images into true-to-life explicit material, posing a severe threat to victims everywhere.
While technology provides a shield of anonymity for some, law enforcement is catching up. Many AI-generated files contain metadata—hidden digital fingerprints—that allow specialized units like the ICAC to trace material back to specific devices, IP addresses, and physical locations. As technology evolves, authorities remain clear: whether an image features a real child or an AI-generated likeness, the law views the possession and creation of such material as a heinous crime against the most vulnerable members of society.
DISCLAIMER: All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The arrest records or information about an arrest that are published or reported on NewsRadio WGNS and www.WGNSradio.com are not an indication of guilt or evidence that an actual crime has been committed.
