COLUMBIA, SC—United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated that Webster Douglas Williams, III, age 56, of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina was sentenced in federal court in Florence, South Carolina, for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2251(a) and (e), Travel With Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2423(b), and Possession of Child Pornography, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252A(a)(5)(B). United States District Judge R. Bryan Harwell of Florence sentenced Williams to 327 months’ imprisonment to be followed by Supervised Release for life during which Williams is required to register as a Sex Offender, attend Sexual Offender Treatment and submit to polygraph examinations. Williams was also ordered to pay restitution of $487,350.00 to his victims.

Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that Williams was employed by the Myrtle Beach Fire Department before he retired. Williams produced child pornography for six years by filming his activities with the children he was molesting. He also took children to Florida in 2009 and engaged in sexual activities with one of the children. When Williams’ house was searched by the Horry County Police Department in November 2011 more than 1 million images of child pornography were found in the form of pictures and videos on computers and elsewhere. Hidden cameras, computers, and other material used by Williams in producing and collecting the child pornography were also found and seized.

The case was investigated by agents of the Horry County Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney William E. Day II of the Columbia office prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.