Ocoee Man Arrested For Distribution And Possession Of Child Pornography

 Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Shawn Williams (41, Ocoee) was arrested yesterday for the distribution and possession of child pornography. Williams made his initial appearance today on a criminal complaint and is currently detained. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each count.

According to the criminal complaint, Williams responded to a sexually explicit Craigslist ad and began online correspondence with an Orlando man. The two men discussed their mutual interest in child pornography and attempted to make arrangements to meet, in person, for a sexual rendezvous. Williams used his cellular telephone to send the Orlando man several images of child pornography and they again discussed meeting to share their collections of child pornography. During their conversations, the Orlando man told Williams that he had a one year-old child. Williams then asked the man to send him “baby pics” and “adult with baby pics.” Agents arrested Williams at his home on March 13, 2014.

A criminal complaint 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). It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joseph M. Schuster.

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.projectsafechildhood.gov.