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Folsom Predator Fitzgerald Admits to Child Exploitation
FOLSOM, CA – William James Fitzgerald, 25, of Folsom, has confessed to a sickening pattern of sexual exploitation targeting a minor. Fitzgerald pleaded guilty today to one count of sexual exploitation of a child, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Kimberly A. Sanchez.
Court documents reveal a disturbing timeline between October 15, 2020, and May 4, 2022. Fitzgerald, using the social media platform Snapchat, groomed a young victim into engaging in sexually explicit acts. The motive? Creating photographic and video recordings for his own depraved purposes. He didn’t rely on charm alone; Fitzgerald actively coerced the minor, dangling Amazon gift cards – valued between $20 and $30 – as bait, repeatedly over at least four instances.
The exploitation didn’t end there. Between February 9, 2021, and February 20, 2021, Fitzgerald repeated the horrific cycle with another minor he contacted through Snapchat, again for the purpose of creating exploitative imagery. This wasn’t a momentary lapse in judgment; it was a calculated and repeated offense.
But the digital predation didn’t stop with live exploitation. A search of Fitzgerald’s phone and iPad uncovered a digital warehouse of depravity – over 1,000 files depicting the sexual abuse of children. These weren’t harmless images. The files contained depictions of children engaged in sexual activity with both adults and other children, and adults abusing toddlers. The sheer volume and nature of the files paint a grim picture of Fitzgerald’s obsession.
The investigation, a collaborative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Folsom Police Department, has brought this monster to justice. Assistant U.S. Attorney Whitnee Goins will be prosecuting the case. Fitzgerald is scheduled to appear before U.S. District Judge Dena Coggins on November 7, 2025, to receive his sentence.
Fitzgerald faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years behind bars, with a potential maximum sentence of 30 years in prison. Beyond incarceration, he could be subjected to a lifetime of supervised release, ordered to pay restitution, and fined $250,000. The final sentence will be determined by Judge Coggins, factoring in statutory requirements and Federal Sentencing Guidelines. This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a national initiative dedicated to combating the horrific epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Resources and internet safety information can be found at www.usdoj.gov/psc.
Key Facts
- State: California
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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