United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Rapid City, South Dakota, man was charged in federal district court with four counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.
Chance Garrett Williams, age 27, was charged on June 20, 2017. Williams appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann on July 11, 2017, and pleaded not guilty to the charges. The penalty upon conviction is 15 to 30 years of imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine, a minimum of 5 years up to lifetime supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The charges relate to Williams sexually exploiting three minor females via his cell phone between January 2012 and January 2017. The charges are merely an accusation and Williams is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Collins is prosecuting the case.
Williams was detained pending further hearing. A trial date has not been set.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
