A New York man was convicted in federal court of blackmailing a 13-year-old girl into having sex with him in a Galloway Township hotel.
Zachary Williams, 37, of New York, was found guilty of two counts of interstate travel to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor, production of and possession of child pornography, and coercion and enticement of a minor, following a 13-day trial before U.S. District Judge Christine P. O’Hearn in Camden federal court.
Williams met the minor in September 2020 via SnapChat, telling her he was 17 years old, BreakingAC previously reported.
He asked the minor for nude photographs. When he received them, he started to "sextort" the girl by threatening to send the photographs to friends and family.
Williams convinced the victim to meet him at the Seaview A Dolce Hotel, after telling the girl she could delete the photos from his phone herself if she met him.
The two had unprotected sex at the hotel Oct. 2, and then Williams made the girl take a Plan B pill in front of him.
He then allowed the girl to delete the photos.
But that didn't stop the blackmail.
Williams continued to send messages threatening to expose the victim's photographs. When she blocked him on one social media account, he would open new accounts continuing to harass her with names like “IWILLHURTYOU Iwilll_h2021,” “IWILLGETTHESWITCHBACK,” and
“Makeadealormomfindsout.”
The victim eventually told her parents, who met with police in December, sparking an investigation.
Law enforcement officers took over the victim’s social media accounts and began communicating with Williams while posing as the victim.
During those communications, he told the girl to "add pedos and flirt with them" and that "all I want is to continue to be your child molester."
After telling the girl "your (sic) going to be angry crying and sad when I expose you," Williams arranged to travel on March 13 to the same Atlantic County hotel to again have sex with the victim.
Law enforcement arrested Williams as he arrived at the hotel.
Williams faces 30 years in prison for each of the interstate travel charges, and 15 to 30 years on the production.
The possession of child pornography carries a maximum of 20 years, with the coercion and enticement carrying a 10-year maximum.
He also faces a $250,000 fine, mandatory restitution and lifetime supervised release.
His sentencing is set for Dec. 4.
NOTE: Federal mugshots are not released publicly.
