Indiana Man Convicted On Child Pornography Charges

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – An Indiana man has been convicted on federal charges of using the Internet to attempt to sexually exploit a teenage girl in Lawrence, Kan., U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.

A federal jury in Kansas City, Kan., returned a verdict Wednesday convicting Brett J. Williamson, 37, Ft. Wayne, Ind., on three counts of attempting to produce child pornography and three counts of attempting to entice a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity.

During trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Williamson posed as a 15-year-old boy on a teen dating site called Tagged.Com. He befriended the Lawrence girl and coaxed her to perform sexual acts in Skype video chats.

Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date. He faces a penalty of not less than 15 years and not more than 30 years and a fine up to $250,000 on each count of attempting to produce child pornography, and not less than 10 years and not more than life and a fine up to $250,000 on each count of enticement.

          Grissom commended the Lawrence Police Department and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Martin for their work on the case.