Patrick Bryant Hawley, a 42-year-old resident of Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, was arrested on November 14, 2024, in Chattanooga. The arrest was carried out by agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on charges related to the sexual exploitation of children. Following his arrest, Hawley made an initial court appearance on the same day at 4:00 p.m. before United States Magistrate Judge Susan K. Lee in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. He was detained after this proceeding, with an arraignment scheduled for November 22, 2024. The trial date will be decided at a later time.
The details of the charges against Hawley are documented in the arrest warrant and supporting affidavit, which are publicly available records at the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee in Chattanooga. The announcement of Hawley’s arrest was made by United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III for the Eastern District of Tennessee, alongside Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud from HSI, and Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico from the FBI.
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HSI has urged anyone who believes they may have been a victim of child exploitation or knows someone who has been, to report it by contacting HSI at (877) 4-HSI-TIP or online at www.ice.gov/tipline.
It is important to note that these are only charges, and every individual is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Source: Read Original Release
Federal Jury Convicts Sean Christopher Williams
Sean Christopher Williams, 53, from Johnson City, Tennessee, was convicted by a federal jury on three counts of Production of Child Pornography in Greeneville, Tennessee. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years per count, with sentencing scheduled for February 24, 2025. The trial revealed Williams’ exploitation of three minor children between 2008 and 2020, and the assault of their mothers. The case, prosecuted under Project Safe Childhood, involved collaboration among multiple law enforcement agencies. More information about this initiative can be found at www.justice.gov/psc.