Sean Christopher Williams, a 53-year-old resident of Johnson City, Tennessee, was sentenced to 95 years in prison on February 24, 2025, by United States District Judge J. Ronnie Greer in Greeneville, Tennessee. Williams was found guilty of escape and multiple counts of producing child pornography.
In July 2024, Williams was convicted of escaping custody, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 751(a). The conviction stemmed from his escape on October 18, 2023, while being transported to the Greeneville Federal Courthouse. His escape initiated a multistate manhunt that concluded with his capture in Pinellas County, Florida, on November 21, 2023.
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Later in November 2024, Williams was convicted on three counts of producing child pornography under 18 U.S.C. § 2251(a) and (e). Evidence presented in court revealed that Williams used three minors for sexually explicit photography over a 12-year period. He also assaulted the mothers of these children while they were unconscious. The crimes occurred in Williams’s apartment in Johnson City, with the earliest incident dating back to 2008 and the latest in 2020. His arrest took place in 2023 near Western Carolina University, where police seized flash drives containing incriminating photos from his vehicle.
United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III remarked on the severity of Williams’s actions and the necessity of the sentence to prevent further harm. FBI Special Agent Joseph E. Carrico and TBI Director David Rausch emphasized the collaborative effort among various law enforcement agencies to bring Williams to justice.
The joint investigation included contributions from the FBI, the United States Marshal Service, Homeland Security Investigations, the First Judicial District Attorney’s Office, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and the Western North Carolina Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meghan L. Gomez, Emily M. Swecker, and J. Gregory Bowman prosecuted the case.
This case was part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a Department of Justice initiative launched in 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. The PSC coordinates efforts among federal, state, and local agencies to apprehend offenders and rescue victims. More information about PSC and internet safety education is available at www.justice.gov/psc.
Source: Read Original Release
Twelve Sentenced for Drug Trafficking in Tennessee
Twelve individuals were sentenced for their roles in a drug trafficking conspiracy involving the distribution of counterfeit fentanyl-laced pills, methamphetamine, and marijuana across Tennessee and other states. The investigation, led by various federal agencies, identified key suspect Matthew Cox and intercepted significant drug shipments. Convictions included drug distribution and firearm possession, with sentences ranging from prison to probation. The prosecution was a collaborative effort by multiple law enforcement agencies and emphasized the importance of combating fentanyl trafficking.