St. Thomas, USVI - A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment on March 5, 2015, charging Donnie W. Williams, 31, of St. Thomas with federal child exploitation offenses, United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe announced today. The first three counts charge Williams with receipt of child pornography, and the last count charges him with possession of child pornography.
Williams was released on bond after his arrest on Jan. 30, 2015, and is awaiting arraignment and advice of rights on the indictment. According to the indictment, Williams used his laptop computer to download child pornography images from a peer-to-peer sharing network. If convicted Williams faces a mandatory five years in prison and fines of up to $250,000.
United States Attorney Sharpe reminds the public that an indictment is merely a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.
Suspected child exploitation or missing children cases may be reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children via its toll-free 24-hour hotline at 202-514-5678, or Homeland Security Investigations at (340) 693-2250.
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Homeland Security Investigations, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Everard E. Potter.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
