A New York man has been sentenced to life imprisonment for multiple child sex offenses, including traveling interstate to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor, production and possession of child pornography, and coercion and enticement of a minor. U.S. Attorney John Giordano announced the sentencing.
Zachary Williams, 37, from New York City, was convicted after a 13-day trial before U.S. District Judge Christine P. O’Hearn. The charges against him included two counts of interstate travel to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor, production and possession of child pornography, and coercion and enticement of a minor.
According to court documents and trial evidence, Williams met the victim on Snapchat in September 2020 when he was 33 years old but lied about his age claiming he was 17. He coerced the victim into sending nude photographs by threatening to share them with her friends and family unless she complied with his demands. Williams arranged to meet the victim at an Atlantic County hotel where they engaged in sexual intercourse.
Williams was arrested in March 2021 during a sting operation where law enforcement officers posed as the victim to lure him back to the same hotel. His phone contained numerous images of child pornography which led to identifying additional victims in New York's Eastern District and Connecticut's District where further charges are pending.
In addition to his life sentence for coercion and enticement, Williams received concurrent sentences: 30 years each for two counts of interstate travel for illicit conduct with a minor and manufacturing child pornography; plus 20 years for possessing child pornography.
“Zachary Williams is a callous sexual predator whose crimes against children were especially cruel,” stated U.S. Attorney John Giordano. “First and foremost, the Court’s imposed sentence will forever protect our children from further abuse by Williams.”
FBI Acting Special Agent Terence G. Reilly commented on the case stating that "A 13-year-old by any normal definition is a child... However, it is easy to see why monsters view an innocent and defenseless child as an easy target." He emphasized their commitment alongside law enforcement partners in removing dangerous predators from communities.
U.S. Attorney Giordano credited FBI special agents from Newark Division’s Atlantic City Resident Agency under Acting Special Agent Terence G. Reilly; Galloway Township Police Department officers under Chief Richard D. Barber; Atlantic City Police Department under Chief James A. Sarkos; Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office under Prosecutor William Reynolds for their investigative efforts leading up today's conviction.
The government representation was handled by Assistant U.S Attorneys Diana Vondra Carrig & Patrick C Askin from Camden's Criminal Division while defense counsel was provided by Mark W Catanzaro Esq., based out Mt Holly NJ