Massachusetts Man Admits Paying Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity over Skype

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that WILLIAM GAUVIN, 43, of Andover, Massachusetts, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to one count of receipt of child pornography.

According to court documents and statements made in court, between approximately October 2016 and March 2017, GAUVIN, using the name “Will Wiggins,” solicited a 17-year-old boy in Connecticut to engage in sexually explicit conduct over Skype.  In exchange for the minor victim transmitting visual depictions of sexually explicit conduct to GAUVIN, GAUVIN paid the minor victim more than $3,000 using PayPal.  GAUVIN also asked the minor victim to persuade his brother, who was 15, to engage in sexually explicit conduct in exchange for money.

GAUVIN resided in Worcester, Massachusetts, at the time of the criminal conduct.

Judge Shea scheduled sentencing for December 20, 2018, at which time GAUVIN faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.

GAUVIN was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on November 1, 2017.  He is released on a $100,000 bond pending sentencing.

This matter has been investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Connecticut State Police, with the assistance of the Worcester Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nancy V. Gifford.

This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.