U.S. Attorney Dena J. King | U.S. Department of Justice
David Williams, a 45-year-old resident of Charlotte, North Carolina, has been sentenced to 140 months in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release for transporting child sexual abuse material (CSAM). This announcement was made by Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Following his release from prison, Williams will be required to register as a sex offender.
The sentencing was also supported by Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Charlotte Division, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department.
“Williams possessed thousands of images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children, yet his criminal conduct did not end there,” stated U.S. Attorney King. She further elaborated that Williams produced unauthorized recordings of minors and used AI technology to alter images found online to create CSAM. King emphasized that combating such misuse of technology is a priority in efforts to protect children.
Court documents reveal that law enforcement was alerted by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about an individual uploading CSAM online. Williams was identified as this individual. During an interview on September 14, 2021, Williams initially denied possessing CSAM but later admitted it and surrendered some electronic devices. A forensic examination uncovered numerous images and videos depicting child sexual abuse.
On September 16, 2021, authorities executed a search warrant at Williams’s home and seized additional electronics containing more CSAM materials. Forensic analysis confirmed over 4,000 videos and images were in his possession along with evidence that he created illicit recordings using AI chatbots to generate realistic CSAM.
Williams pleaded guilty on June 12, 2023, to charges related to transporting child pornography. He remains in federal custody awaiting transfer to a designated federal facility.
U.S. District Judge Max O. Cogburn Jr., who presided over the case, remarked on its gravity stating that “this is a serious crime with serious consequences.”
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and CMPD with Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Cervantes prosecuting the case.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood initiated by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at addressing child sexual exploitation through coordinated federal resources.
