A Peoria man, Joshua Michael Williams, aged 43, received a sentence of 135 months in prison for attempted enticement of a minor. This will be followed by ten years of supervised release. Additionally, he must register as a sex offender.
The sentencing took place on March 5, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Jonathan E. Hawley. The court heard that in early 2024, Williams engaged in online conversations with someone he believed to be the stepfather of an 11-year-old girl who was purportedly available for sexual acts. Williams expressed interest in meeting the supposed minor and had previously wanted to engage in sexual acts with another young female. Upon arriving at the agreed location to meet the child, Williams was arrested.
Williams pleaded guilty in October 2024 and has been held by the U.S. Marshals Service since his arrest.
Judge Hawley remarked during sentencing that "the only good thing about what happened was that there was no minor," emphasizing how easily there could have been real harm done to a child.
The legal consequences for attempted enticement of a minor range from ten years to life imprisonment, along with five years to life under supervised release.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation's Springfield Field Office conducted the investigation into this case.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative led by the Department of Justice aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide. It involves collaboration among federal, state, and local resources to locate and prosecute offenders while identifying and rescuing victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.projectsafechildhood.gov.