In Waco, 28-year-old William Ervin Taylor of Bellmead, TX, was sentenced to 210 months in federal prison for distributing child pornography announced United States Attorney Richard L. Durbin, Jr., Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Shane Folden, San Antonio Division, and McLennan County Sheriff Parnell McNamara.
During yesterday’s sentencing hearing, United States District Judge Walter S. Smith, Jr., also ordered that Taylor pay $10,000 restitution and be placed on supervised release for a period of five years after completing his prison term.
On April 14, 2016, Taylor pleaded guilty to the charge. By pleading guilty, Taylor admitted that beginning in March 2015, he distributed images and videos depicting child pornography to individuals he later discovered were undercover HSI agents.
In August 2015, federal and state authorities arrested Taylor following the execution of a search warrant at his residence. A subsequent forensics examination of seized materials, including the defendant’s computer tablet and cellphone, revealed the presence of child pornography. Taylor has remained in custody since his arrest.
“By conducting these types of investigations, Homeland Security Investigations is taking child predators off the Internet, off the streets, and putting them behind bars,” said Special Agent in Charge Shane Folden, HSI San Antonio. “This sentence sends a clear message that there are serious consequences for those who exploit children in any way. Targeting crimes of this nature is a high priority for HSI. We will continue to dedicate resources and work with our law enforcement partners to identify and bring to justice these individuals.”
This investigation was conducted by the Homeland Security Investigations together with the McLennan County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Mary Kucera prosecuted this case on behalf of the Government.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.