U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe | U.S. Department of Justice
An Illinois man, William Ahart, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison on December 13 for transporting child sexual abuse material. The sentencing was handed down by U.S. District Judge William P. Dimitrouleas in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Ahart, aged 42 and a registered sex offender, arrived at the Port Everglades cruise ship terminal from the U.S. Virgin Islands on June 15. Upon his arrival, United States Customs and Border Protection officers examined his smartphone due to his status as a registered sex offender. They discovered numerous images of child sexual abuse material.
Special Agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Fort Lauderdale conducted a further review of Ahart’s smartphone and found that the images were sent to him via messaging applications by three minor females with whom he had been communicating over several months. Ahart admitted to receiving and viewing these images during communications with the minors.
Further investigation revealed that Ahart encouraged one of the minors to engage in self-harm during their conversations. Evidence showed that he mailed a "fun package" containing items such as knives and a shock collar to facilitate this behavior.
Ahart pled guilty on September 20 to charges related to the transportation of child sexual abuse material.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury of HSI Miami.
The case was investigated by HSI Miami and the South Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force with assistance from CBP and HSI Albany, New York Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney M. Catherine Koontz prosecuted it.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide.
Further court documents can be accessed on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida under case number 24-cr-60118.
