Ocoee Man Pleads Guilty To Distribution Of Child Pornography

Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Shawn Williams (42, Ocoee) pleaded guilty today to distribution of child pornography.  He faces a mandatory minimum of 5 years, up to a maximum of 20 years, in federal prison. Williams will also be required to serve a mandatory minimum of 5 years, up to a life term, of supervision, and to register as a sex offender. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to court documents, Williams responded to a sexually explicit Craigslist ad and began conversing online with an Orlando man, William Edward Osman. The two men discussed their mutual interest in child pornography and attempted to make arrangements to meet in person for a sexual rendezvous. On May 9, 2013, Williams used his cell phone to send Osman images of child pornography and they again discussed meeting to share their collections of child pornography. During their conversations, Osman 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.”

On October 15, 2013, special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) arrested Osman on charges related to the sexual exploitation of children. Agents seized his phone and identified Williams as one of the individuals with whom he had been electronically trading child pornography.  Agents arrested Williams at his home on March 13, 2014, at which time he admitted to trading child pornography with Osman.

On September 3, 2014, Osman was sentenced to 60 years in federal prison for the production, distribution, and possession of child pornography. 

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). It is being 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.usdoj.gov/psc.