William Eric Cooper, a former member of the Georgia National Guard, has been sentenced to ten years in federal prison for attempting to entice a minor to produce sexually explicit images. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge William M. Ray II after Cooper pleaded guilty to attempted enticement of a child.
“Cooper is a predator who deserves this significant sentence,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Through quick and excellent work, our law enforcement partners rescued an exploited child, exposed Cooper’s deviant conduct, and brought a sex offender to justice.”
“William Cooper is a dangerous predator who attempted to exploit a vulnerable child,” said Peter Ellis, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Georgia. “Thanks to swift law enforcement action, we ensured that he will face the full consequences of his horrific actions.”
According to information presented in court, FBI agents in North Carolina rescued a 15-year-old girl in February 2025 who had been abducted and raped. Investigators discovered that before her kidnapping, she and Cooper exchanged more than 1,000 text messages discussing plans for sexual encounters and requests from Cooper for the girl to create sexually explicit videos of herself. When agents arrested Cooper and searched his home in March 2025, they found over 250 images and videos depicting child sexual abuse on his cell phone.
At the time of these offenses, Cooper was employed by the Georgia National Guard but was separated from military service with an Other than Honorable discharge following his arrest.
Cooper will also serve ten years of supervised release after completing his prison term and must pay a $100 special assessment.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation with support from the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by U.S. Attorney Hertzberg and Assistant U.S. Attorney Calvin A. Leipold, III.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in 2006 aimed at protecting children from online exploitation and abuse through coordinated efforts between federal, state, and local agencies.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia covers north Georgia including Atlanta suburbs and coordinates cases with national reach as the principal federal law enforcement agency for this region (https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga). The office enforces criminal laws and represents the United States in civil matters while collaborating with law enforcement partners to protect public safety (https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga). Theodore S. Hertzberg serves as United States Attorney for this district (https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga).
For further information about Project Safe Childhood visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
For media inquiries contact USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or call (404) 581-6016.
