Wood County Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child Pornography

Defendant faces up to 20 years in federal prison

BECKLEY, W.Va. – A Parkersburg, West Virginia man pled guilty yesterday to a child pornography crime, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Craig Williams, 37,  entered his guilty plea to possessing child pornography. U.S. Attorney Stuart praised the investigative efforts of the Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Investigations and the West Virginia State Police.

“Crimes that exploit our children will not be tolerated,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “We have a primary duty to protect our kids.  My Office will aggressively prosecute pedophiles to the fullest extent of the law.”

Williams admitted that on February 19, 2015,  he possessed pictures of prepubescent minors engaged in sex acts. Williams received the pictures over the internet while he was living in Kentucky.  The investigation revealed that Williams was using a web-based chatting service to access and download child pornography. Williams further admitted to possessing over 600 images and videos of minors engaged in sex acts, and that some of those images involved sadistic conduct.

Williams faces up to 20 years in federal prison when he is sentenced on a date to be determined by the Court.  Williams will  be required to serve a term of supervised release of at least five years and up to life. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.

Erik S. Goes, Assistant United States Attorney, is in charge of the prosecution. The plea hearing was held before United States District Judge Irene C. Berger.

This case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative of the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s 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 those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

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