The vice chairman of the Smyth County School Board in Marion was arrested today for allegedly paying more than $10,000 over a two-year period for nude images of children he met through Snapchat.
Todd Stewart Williams, the Chilhowie district representative, was arrested at his home today on federal criminal charges related to child exploitation.
According to court documents, Williams paid six juvenile victims to send him nude images and sexually explicit videos of themselves and others.
Williams’s alleged criminal activity came to the attention of law enforcement in September 2022 when a 15-year-old teenager living in Oklahoma reported to the FBI that Williams, using the Snapchat username “todd_w3411,” requested nude images and videos of him.
During an interview with law enforcement, the teen told investigators he met Williams in a Snapchat group intended for gay teenage males. Soon after they began chatting, Williams reached out to the teen and offered to make in-app purchases in an online video game in exchange for nude pictures of the teen. From May 1, 2022, through October 1, 2022, Williams sent the teen more than $2,000 in exchange for nude images and videos.
Based on the information obtained from the FBI investigation in Oklahoma, the FBI in Richmond began an investigation into the Snapchat activities of Williams’ username, “todd_w3411.”
The FBI’s investigation uncovered multiple instances of Williams’s alleged exploitation of minors.
“Sexual exploitation and abuse have grown exponentially through the use of the internet, especially its online gaming platforms,” said Christopher R. Kavanaugh, United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia. “The safety and well-being of children in our communities are top priorities of my office, and we are committed to the joint efforts with our law enforcement partners to relentlessly pursue these perpetrators and ensure they are brought to justice.”
Additional court allegations
- Williams allegedly used Snapchat to communicate with a then 12-year-old minor and offered to purchase items for an online game before eventually offering to buy nude pictures and videos from the boy. Between August 2022 and January 2024, Williams sent the young victim nearly $1,000 in exchange for nude images and videos.
- In January 2023, Williams met another teen on Snapchat and paid the teen to take pictures and videos of him sexually abusing his younger stepbrother, who was 10 years old at the time. As directed by Williams, the teen would approach his stepbrother in their bedroom at night and force his stepbrother to watch pornography. The teen would also masturbate and take pictures. Because the teen reached the $600 monthly limit on Cash App transactions, Williams mailed him a debit card hidden inside a pair of shoes to ensure he was able to purchase his videos. In a six-month period, Williams paid more than $3,500 for nude images and videos of the teen and his stepbrother.
- In yet another interaction with a young teenage boy on Snapchat, Williams paid more than $3,000 in exchange for nude images and videos of him and his teenage boyfriend.
If you or someone you know have information about this matter or feel you may have been a victim, please contact the FBI Richmond Division.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case.
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Crystal Graham
