Life in Prison for NYC Man Who Had Sex with Teen, Child Pornography on Phone
Introduction to the Case
A man from New York is facing life in prison after investigators found he talked to a teen girl online and then traveled to the Jersey Shore to meet her and had sex with her.
In September of 2022, Zachary Williams, 37, met a 13-year-old New Jersey girl on the online photo sharing platform Snapchat and lied about his age by telling her he was just 17 when he was 33 at the time.
During their conversation, Williams is accused of asking her for nude photographs and then threatened to send the pictures to her family and friends.
The Crime and Investigation
At one point, Williams talked the girl into meeting him at a hotel in Atlantic County to let her delete the nude photos of herself off of his phone.
Then, on Oct. 20, 2020, Williams went to the hotel in Atlantic County and "engaged in sexual intercourse" with the girl two days later in the hotel room.
Following this, Williams continued to threaten that he would share her nude photographs despite their agreement.
In March of 2021, law enforcement officials conducted a sting operation where they pretended to be the young girl and convinced Williams to return to the Atlantic County hotel.
Williams was arrested as a result of this operation and when investigators reviewed his phone, they found several images of child pornography that showed more child-aged victims in both New York and Connecticut, officials said.
Conviction and Sentencing
Williams has been convicted of two counts of interstate travel to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor, production of and possession of child pornography, and coercion and enticement of a minor.
“Zachary Williams is a callous sexual predator whose crimes against children were especially cruel,” U.S. Attorney John Giordano said. “First and foremost, the Court’s imposed sentence will forever protect our children from further abuse by Williams. My office, and our law enforcement partners, are steadfast in our commitment to protecting our nation’s young people.”
Conclusion
The case of Zachary Williams serves as a stark reminder of the dangers that lurk online and the importance of protecting our children from predators. The sentence imposed on Williams will ensure that he can no longer harm any more children, and it sends a strong message to others who would engage in similar crimes.
FAQs
Q: What was Zachary Williams convicted of?
A: Williams was convicted of two counts of interstate travel to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor, production of and possession of child pornography, and coercion and enticement of a minor.
Q: How did Williams meet his victim?
A: Williams met the 13-year-old girl on the online photo sharing platform Snapchat, where he lied about his age.
Q: What was found on Williams’ phone after his arrest?
A: Investigators found several images of child pornography on Williams’ phone, showing more child-aged victims in both New York and Connecticut.
Q: What is the sentence imposed on Williams?
A: Williams is facing life in prison for his crimes.
