Prosecution Results from Recent Enactment of Federal Registration Requirement for Convicted Sex Offenders

A federal complaint was unsealed this morning charging ERIC NATHAN WILLIAMS with failing to register pursuant to the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006.¹ WILLIAMS was arrested by the United States Marshals Service this morning, and his initial appearance is scheduled later today before United States Magistrate Judge Roanne L. Mann, at the U.S. Courthouse, 225 Cadman Plaza East, Brooklyn, New York.

The case was announced by Roslynn R. Mauskopf, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Eugene J. Corcoran, United States Marshal, Eastern District of New York.

The complaint alleges that on June 4, 1997, WILLIAMS was convicted in Florida of Lewd and Lascivious Assault on a Child Under the Age of 16 Years, in violation of Florida law. WILLIAMS served approximately 15 months’ incarceration, and upon his release was required to register as a sex offender for life. WILLIAMS registered as a sex offender in Florida in 1998 and continued his registration until 2006. However, in October 2006, Florida law enforcement authorities conducting a check of sex offender residences discovered that WILLIAMS was not living at his registered address in Florida.

An investigation by the United States Marshals Service revealed that from 2000 through 2006, WILLIAMS was arrested eight times in both Kings County and Nassau County, New York, using various aliases. In connection with each arrest, WILLIAMS stated that he resided in Brooklyn, New York. The complaint further alleges that on December 19, 2006, WILLIAMS entered a Department of Motor Vehicles branch in Orlando, Florida, and updated his resident address to a new location in Orlando. On January 7, 2007, a United States Deputy Marshal verified that WILLIAMS never resided at the new Orlando address, and, in fact, a resident at the Orlando address informed the deputy that WILLIAMS lives in Brooklyn.

Under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, which was enacted as part of the Adam Walsh Act on July 27, 2006, convicted sex offenders who travel interstate are required to register, and keep their registration current, in each jurisdiction where they reside, are employed, or are students. A check of the New York Board of Examiners of Sex Offenders confirmed that as of March 12, 2007, WILLIAMS still had not registered as a sex offender in New York State.

 “We cannot allow convicted sex offenders to reside in our community without registering as required by federal law,” stated United States Attorney Mauskopf. “We are committed to protecting our children from these proven predators.” Ms. Mauskopf thanked the United States Marshals Service, Middle District of Florida, for its assistance in the case.

United States Marshal Corcoran stated, “Sex offenders have the highest rate of recidivism among criminal defendants and pose a great danger to society. The United States Marshals Service along with our state and local law enforcement partners are aggressively pursuing non-compliant sex offenders who have fled across jurisdictional boundaries.”

Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative was created in February 2006 to protect children from on-line exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better investigate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit “http://www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.”

If convicted of the charges, WILLIAMS faces a maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, federal sex offender registration, a life term of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.

The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrea Goldbarg.

The Defendant:

Name: ERIC NATHAN WILLIAMS
DOB: 2/16/1964

 

 

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¹ The charge in the complaint is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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