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Press Release

Former Preacher Pleads Guilty to Coercion and Enticement of 5 Minors

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Oklahoma

A Vinita man pleaded guilty Friday to enticing five minors whose ages ranged from 7 to 16 years old when the abuse occurred, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.

Roy Edward Williams, 63, pleaded guilty to five counts of coercion and enticement of a minor in Indian Country and to possession of child pornography.

“Roy Williams preyed upon five children over the course of 16 years. He violated their innocence, sense of safety, and trust,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “In several of these incidents, some adults failed to report the abuse. When children disclose they’ve been victims of sexual abuse, adults need to listen and act on their behalf. Children should not have to hide the abuse they’ve endured nor feel ashamed for the appalling actions of a predator.”

“The FBI and our law enforcement partners have a great responsibility to protect our vulnerable community members from the terrifying behaviors of sex offenders such as Roy Williams” said Ed Gray, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Oklahoma City Division. “We are grateful for our collaborative partnerships with the Craig County Sheriff’s Office, the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in this case as we continue our work to fight child sexual abuse.”

Williams committed the sex crimes starting on or around November 2002 and as late as December 2018. According to court documents, Williams also took sexually explicit photographs of several of the victims, paid or offered something of value to several victims immediately following the sexual abuse, and threatened several victims to prevent them from reporting the abuse to others. The defendant was further found in possession of child pornography on June 24, 2019. During the period of the described abuse, Williams was a member and preacher at Bunker Hill Baptist in Vinita.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

The FBI, Craig County Sheriff’s Office, and the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leah Paisner and Edward Snow are prosecuting the case.

Contact

Public Affairs
918-382-2755

Updated April 1, 2022

Topics
Project Safe Childhood
Indian Country Law and Justice