UK man gets 10 years for trip to

UK man gets 10 years for trip to Lenoir City seeking sex with minor

From staff reports

KNOXVILLE — A United Kingdom resident was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison Thursday for traveling from the UK to Lenoir City in an attempt to have sex with a 13-year-old girl.

Roy Anthony Williams, of the Isle of Wight, pleaded guilty in March to charges of traveling in interstate commerce to engage in illicit sexual conduct and using interstate and foreign commerce to persuade, induce, entice and coerce a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity.

His sentencing hearing took place Thursday before Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas Varlan.

Following his release from prison, Williams will be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 10 years and required to register with the sex offender registry in any state in which he resides, works or attends school, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Knoxville said in a news release.

Williams will also be subject to deportation from the United States following his release from prison.

Authorities said Williams traveled from the UK to Lenoir City in July 2017 for the purpose of having sex with a 13-year-old girl and communicated with the girl via text messages to have her meet him at a local motel for sex.

The girl’s mother discovered the text messages on her daughter’s phone and reported the contact to the Lenoir City Police Department, the release said.

A search of Williams’ cellphone and computer confirmed he had been speaking with the girl online for several months via various social media platforms, authorities said.

Doug Overbey, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee, said his office will “continue to work with investigative agencies to build cases and prosecute” such crimes.

“Sexual predators like Williams use the internet and social media to find children, particularly teenagers, to groom and entice for illicit sexual activity,” Overbey said in the release. “Parents should be vigilant to protect their children from would-be child molesters who are prowling the internet for young victims.”

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Lenoir City Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Morris prosecuted the case.