A Charlottesville man has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for child pornography charges. William Combs, aged 54, pleaded guilty in January 2024 to possession of child pornography.
Court documents reveal that in July 2023, Combs engaged in an online conversation with someone he believed to be the father of a 12-year-old boy. During these interactions, Combs attempted to arrange a meeting with the minor for sexual purposes. However, before the planned meeting took place, Combs ceased all communication.
Law enforcement obtained a search warrant and traced the IP address linked to Combs. On August 10, 2023, officers searched his residence and found several electronic devices. A forensic review revealed over 25,000 files depicting minors involved in sexual acts, including prepubescent children and those under the age of 12.
The investigation was conducted by the Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Investigations and the Albemarle County Police Department. The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Zachary T. Lee; ICE Homeland Security Investigations Washington D.C., Acting Special Agent in Charge Christopher Heck; and Col. Sean Reeves, Chief of Albemarle County Police Department.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in 2006 aimed at protecting children from exploitation and abuse through coordinated efforts involving federal, state, and local resources.
