Serial Rapist Sentenced in Atlanta to 25 Years in Federal Prison

ATLANTA, GA – Jacques Jackson, a 30-year-old Atlanta man described by prosecutors as an “irrepressible sexual predator,” was sentenced on Friday, January 23, 2026, to 25 years in federal prison. The sentencing follows his May 2025 guilty plea to charges involving the grooming and rape of three teenage girls he targeted via Instagram.

Jackson’s criminal history, which spans nearly a decade, was unraveled through a multi-state investigation involving the FBI and several local Georgia police departments.

A Years-Long Trail of Abuse

The case against Jackson detailed a disturbing pattern of exploitation and violence beginning as early as 2015:

2015 Cold Case Discovery: Forensic evidence recently linked Jackson to the unsolved July 2015 forcible rape of a 15-year-old girl in Atlanta. DNA collected from the victim nearly 11 years ago finally matched Jackson’s profile following his later arrests.
The 2018 Grocery Store “Rescue”: Jackson was first encountered by law enforcement in Decatur after a 15-year-old victim managed to flag down a police officer in a grocery store. Jackson confessed to blackmailing the girl into meeting him across state lines, punching her, and assaulting her multiple times. He was released on bond six months later.
The 2021 Elberton Abduction: While on bond, Jackson targeted another 15-year-old girl. He sent an Uber to pick her up, eventually taking her to a motel where he assaulted her repeatedly.

The Texas Arrest

Jackson fled Georgia in 2022, leading to a nationwide manhunt by the FBI. On June 8, 2022, he was intercepted at a Greyhound bus station in Big Spring, Texas. At the time of his arrest, Jackson was:

Accompanied by a runaway child he met on Instagram.
In possession of a firearm and $3,500 in cash.
Accused of recording sexual assaults of his victims.

Federal Sentencing and Supervision

U.S. District Judge Thomas W. Thrash, Jr. handed down the 25-year sentence, which will be followed by 10 years of supervised release. Jackson has remained in custody since his 2022 arrest in Texas and will now be transferred to the federal Bureau of Prisons.

“This case is an important reminder that social media is often an abuser’s preferred means to manipulate, exploit, and victimize unsuspecting children,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “I urge parents to monitor their kids’ online activity vigilantly.”