Todd Stewart Williams, the former Vice Chairman of the Smyth County School Board, has pleaded guilty to producing child pornography involving at least six minor male victims. The 54-year-old from Chilhowie, Virginia, admitted to four counts of persuading, inducing, enticing, and coercing minors for sexually explicit conduct, with the intent of creating visual depictions for interstate commerce.
Addressing the case, Acting United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee highlighted the risks posed by the internet against minors, emphasizing the need for vigilance when abuse is reported. "The Internet has expanded the manner in which young people can be targeted by those looking to exploit them," Lee stated. He also thanked the FBI for their work on the case.
Stanley Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division, condemned Williams's actions, highlighting his betrayal of trust. Meador remarked, "There is no place in our communities for someone who manipulates and abuses children, especially by someone in a position of influence."
Williams's activities were uncovered in September 2022 after a 15-year-old in Oklahoma reported his interactions with Williams to the FBI. Williams reportedly used the Snapchat username "todd_w3411" to request nude images and videos from the teenager, whom he met in a group for gay teenage males. Investigations revealed Williams offered virtual game purchases in exchange for such content.
Further investigations by the FBI showed Williams's exploitation of multiple underage victims. In one instance, he initiated contact with a 12-year-old via Snapchat, offering online game purchases before proposing to buy nude images. Over time, Williams paid nearly $1,000 for such content.
In another case, Williams engaged a teen to take explicit photos and videos of his 10-year-old stepbrother after paying him. To bypass transaction limits, Williams mailed a debit card hidden inside shoes to the teen. Overall, Williams paid over $3,500 for such explicit content involving the siblings.
Williams also spent over $3,000 on images and videos from another teenage boy and his boyfriend. In total, he paid more than $10,000 for such illegal materials from at least six minor victims.
Williams faces a potential sentence of between 15 and 30 years in federal prison. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is probing the case, while the prosecution is led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Whit Pierce.
The case is pursued under Project Safe Childhood, an initiative by the Department of Justice started in 2006 to combat child exploitation, involving collaboration between federal, state, and local resources. More details about the initiative can be found at www.projectsafechildhood.gov.