South Carolina Physician Charged With Attempting To Entice A Minor For Sex Over The Internet

Orlando, Florida - United States Attorney Robert E. O'Neill announces the return of an indictment charging Dr. John Francis Williams (66, Blythewood, S.C.) with attempting to entice a minor for sexual activity through use of the Internet. If convicted, Williams faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Williams that the United States intends to forfeit a residence located at 1822 Wiley Post Trail in Port Orange, Florida.

According to the indictment, between October 11, 2012, and continuing through October 12, 2012, Williams used the Internet to attempt to persuade, induce, and entice a minor to engage in a sexual activity. Williams allegedly communicated with the minor over the Internet from the Port Orange home, and also offered to bring the minor there to engage in sexual activity.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of the federal criminal laws, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, as part of “Operation Broadband.” Operation Broadband utilized undercover agents to monitor various social networking websites to identify adults interested in engaging in sexual activity with minors. This case will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel W. Eckhart.

It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."