William Foster Alger, a 76-year-old resident of Hagerstown, Maryland, pled guilty on Mar. 9 in federal court to charges of coercion and enticement of a child after admitting to sexually exploiting minor victims living in South America.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to address the exploitation of children online and across international borders. Alger was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2025 on child sex-abuse charges.
According to the plea agreement, between November 2023 and December 2024, Alger used mobile phones and online applications to persuade three minor victims to engage in sexual activity. He paid the mothers of these victims through Western Union for images depicting sexually explicit conduct involving their children. The victims lived in Ecuador, where Alger frequently traveled and eventually purchased land and built a residence. Authorities found numerous photos on Alger’s iCloud account showing him at his Ecuador residence with the minors and their mothers.
Alger faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years and up to life in prison for coercion and enticement. The announcement was made by Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland; Christopher R. Heck, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Maryland; Colonel Paul Joey Kifer, Chief of Police of the Hagerstown Police Department; and Washington County State’s Attorney Gina Cirincion.
This prosecution is part of both the Homeland Security Task Force initiative—which brings together personnel from various federal agencies to combat transnational crime—and Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide effort launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended HSI, HPD, and the Washington County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work on this investigation. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Budlow for prosecuting the case.
