Lance Bradley Williams Sentenced in Child Sex Trafficking Case

A Fort Smith man has been slammed with a decade behind bars for his role in the sex trafficking of a 17-year-old girl, court records reveal. Lance Bradley Williams, aka ‘Crush,’ aka ‘Lil’ Crush,’ age 24, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release and ordered to pay a $3,600 fine on one count of Conspiracy to Commit Sex Trafficking of a Child. The sentencing, handed down by U.S. District Judge Timothy L. Brooks in Fayetteville, marks the end of a years-long investigation into a sordid underground operation exploiting minors.

At the heart of the case: a runaway teen who, in June 2015, fell into the clutches of Randall Steward, a Fort Smith man who forced her into prostitution from a Fayetteville hotel room. FBI agents confirmed that backpage.com was used to advertise the minor for sex, with hotel and ad platform records backing up the victim’s harrowing account. Steward was indicted in October 2015, later pleading guilty and sentenced on September 22, 2016, to 12½ years in federal prison.

As investigators followed the digital trail, they landed on Lance Bradley Williams as a key co-conspirator. Evidence showed Williams purchased the cellphone used in the backpage.com ads promoting the underage girl. Prosecutors say Williams knew the device would be used to pimp the teen — a fact that sealed his fate. Indicted on March 16, 2016, Williams pleaded guilty on August 17, 2016, admitting his complicity in the trafficking ring.

Diane Upchurch, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Little Rock, called the outcome a stark warning. ‘The outcome of this case serves as a sobering warning to those engaged in the sex trafficking of minors and the severe consequences for those who commit such crimes,’ she said. ‘Together with our federal and local partners at the United States Attorney’s Office, Fort Smith Police Department, Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office, and Crawford County Sheriff’s Office, we will continue to pursue and prosecute anyone who engages in the vile exploitation of our children.’

The case was investigated by a coalition of law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, Fort Smith Police Department, Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office, and Crawford County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Jennen handled the prosecution, weaving together digital evidence, victim testimony, and phone records to secure the conviction. The collaboration exemplifies the multi-agency push to dismantle trafficking networks operating across state lines.

This prosecution was part of Project Safe Childhood, a Justice Department initiative launched in 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation. By uniting federal, state, and local resources, the program targets predators who use the internet to exploit minors. For more information, visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. Court documents related to the case are available via PACER at www.pacer.gov.