**GREENEVILLE, Tenn.**
A man from Tennessee has been found guilty of producing images related to child sexual abuse. Sean Williams, 53, was convicted on Thursday, amidst allegations in lawsuits claiming he drugged and assaulted numerous women while law enforcement failed to properly investigate his activities. The federal indictment includes three counts, each carrying a minimum sentence of 15 years, potentially extending up to 30 years. Sentencing is scheduled for February 24.
A police report details that an officer from Western Carolina University’s campus discovered Williams asleep in his vehicle last year. Upon searching the car, authorities uncovered cocaine, methamphetamine, and approximately $100,000 in cash. The police also found digital devices containing over 5,000 images of child sexual abuse. Notably, the evidence included photos and videos of Williams allegedly assaulting at least 52 women in his Johnson City apartment, captured while the victims were in a discernibly unconscious state.
The jury at the Greeneville federal court found him guilty on all three charges connected to the disturbing visuals of a 9-month-old boy, a 4-year-old girl, and a 7-year-old girl. Prosecutors claimed that Williams raped the mothers of these children while they were incapacitated, and they presented evidence that documented these acts as well. Although the mothers provided testimony during the trial, Williams chose not to take the stand himself. Currently, he has not been charged in relation to the multiple allegations of sexual assault involving the women.
In addition to the federal charges, Williams is facing multiple accusations in Tennessee, including child rape and aggravated sexual battery against minors. He also has pending charges in a North Carolina federal court regarding the possession of child sexual abuse images and illegal substances.
In an incident from October 2023, Williams escaped from transport while being taken to a court hearing in Greeneville. Authorities managed to recapture him in Florida more than a month later. He was convicted of escape in July and is now facing a maximum penalty of five years in prison for that offense, with sentencing expected in February.
Separately, three federal lawsuits have been filed against the Johnson City Police Department, alleging negligence in investigating claims that Williams had been drugging and sexually assaulting women in the area for years. While Williams is not named as a defendant in these lawsuits, they have been initiated by a former federal prosecutor, alongside nine women identified as Jane Does 1-9, as well as another woman. Accusations state that Williams bribed police to hinder the investigations regarding the sexual assault claims.
The initial trial pertaining to these federal lawsuits is slated to commence in August 2025. The city has denied any allegations of corruption, a stance echoed by the officers implicated in the lawsuits. Legal proceedings are anticipated to involve depositions of Williams.
In a statement to the media, Williams contended that he was a victim of a setup by law enforcement as part of a larger corruption scheme. Allegations raised in the former prosecutor’s lawsuit assert that police intentionally mishandled her attempts to apprehend Williams concerning a federal charge for possession of ammunition, which allowed him to elude capture. He remained a fugitive for that charge until his arrest on the Western Carolina University campus two years later. The city responded by stating that it took five months to secure an indictment following a police request in 2020.
Reports indicate that at least six names found on video folders in Williams’ possession aligned with first names on a list marked “Raped,” discovered by police in his residence. Following public outcry, the city of Johnson City initiated an independent investigation in the summer of 2022 to assess how allegations of sexual assaults were managed by the police department. By November of that year, the U.S. Department of Justice and the FBI launched a federal investigation into sex trafficking in the area.
The outcome of the city’s independent investigation, released in 2023, criticized the police for conducting sporadic, ineffective, and incomplete investigations. It pointed to deficiencies in their management of records, inadequate training, and the presence of gender-based biases among officers. In anticipation of the findings, the city had begun implementing reforms such as adopting a new protocol for investigating sexual assault cases and providing a more comfortable environment for victim interviews.