ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL CHARGES CUMBERLAND COUNTY MAN WITH PRODUCTION, POSSESSION OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE MATERIAL

ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL CHARGES CUMBERLAND COUNTY MAN WITH PRODUCTION, POSSESSION OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE MATERIAL

August 30, 2024

Defendant also Charged for Possession of Methamphetamine Manufacturing Materials, Delivery of Methamphetamine

Chicago - Attorney General Kwame Raoul's office charged a Cumberland County man with allegedly producing and possessing child sexual abuse material. The case is part of Raoul's ongoing work, in collaboration with federal law enforcement agencies and local law enforcement officials throughout Illinois, to apprehend offenders who download and trade child sexual abuse images online.

The Attorney General's office charged William A. Williams, 49, of Greenup, Illinois, in Cumberland County Circuit Court with five counts of production of child pornography, Class X felonies each punishable by up to 30 years in prison; and five counts of possession of child pornography, Class 2 felonies each punishable by up to seven years in prison. Williams was also charged with one count of delivery of methamphetamine, a Class 1 felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison; and possession of meth manufacturing materials, also a Class 2 felony. Sentences are ultimately determined by the court. Williams is being held in the Cumberland County jail until his detention hearing Sept. 3.

"Survivors of child exploitation and their families experience trauma that can lead to a lifetime of physical and emotional recovery," Raoul said. "I will continue to collaborate with local law enforcement to ensure those who inflict this disturbing abuse are held accountable and survivors receive the justice they deserve."

Illinois Attorney General investigators, with the assistance of the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office and the Greenup Police Department, conducted a search of Williams' residence in the 1600 block of County Road 1050N in Greenup on Aug. 28. Williams was arrested following the discovery of several thousand digital images and videos depicting child sexual abuse material on several devices.

Raoul's office is co-prosecuting this case with the Cumberland County State's Attorney Bryan Robbins.

The public is reminded that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Raoul's office, with a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, runs the Illinois Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force that investigates child exploitation crimes and trains law enforcement agencies. The task force receives CyberTips, or online reports of child pornography, from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Over the last several years, CyberTipline reports have steadily increased. In 2023, reports to the ICAC increased by 46% over 2022.

Illinois' ICAC Task Force is one of 61 ICAC task forces throughout the country and is comprised of a network of more than 185 local, county, state and federal law enforcement agencies. Since 2019, the Attorney General's ICAC Task Force has received more than 46,150 CyberTips and has been involved in more than 755 arrests of sexual predators. Since 2006, the Attorney General's ICAC Task Force has been involved in more than 2,145 arrests of sexual predators. The task force also has provided internet safety training and education to tens of thousands of parents, teachers, students and law enforcement professionals.

Attorney General Raoul is reminding the public that child sexual exploitation can be reported online at cybertipline.com and child abuse at dcfsonlinereporting.dcfs.illinois.gov. In addition, local child advocacy centers can be found at childrensadvocacycentersofillinois.org.

Assistant Attorney General Katherine Hegarty is prosecuting the case for Raoul's High Tech Crimes Bureau.