Roy Edward Williams, Child Sex Abuse of Minors, Oklahoma 2024

A 63-year-old former preacher from Vinita, Roy Edward Williams, has been federally indicted on 11 counts tied to the sexual abuse of five minors, some as young as 7 at the time of the alleged assaults. The indictment, announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson, paints a harrowing picture of manipulation, coercion, and exploitation spanning more than 16 years in Indian Country.

Williams is charged with Coercion and Enticement of a Minor in Indian Country (Counts 1, 3, 5, 6, and 8); Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country (Counts 2, 4, 9); Abusive Sexual Contact of a Minor Between 12 and 16 Years Old in Indian Country (Count 7); and Possession of Child Pornography (Count 11). The crimes are alleged to have occurred between November 2002 and December 2018, primarily within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation near Vinita, Oklahoma.

According to the indictment, Williams, who served as a preacher at Bunker Hill Baptist Church during the period of abuse, used his position of trust to exploit vulnerable children. He is accused of taking sexually explicit photographs of several victims, paying or offering them items of value immediately after assaults, and threatening them into silence. These tactics ensured years of secrecy, allowing the abuse to continue unchecked.

On June 24, 2019, authorities discovered Williams in possession of child pornography—evidence that triggered federal involvement. Although Williams was previously charged in Craig County District Court, those charges were dismissed in April 2021 due to jurisdictional issues—Williams is a Cherokee Nation citizen, and the crimes occurred within tribal jurisdiction. The Cherokee Nation Attorney General’s Office swiftly filed tribal charges, and Williams remains in tribal custody awaiting trial.

This week’s federal indictment adds a new layer to the case, with the U.S. Attorney’s Office stepping in to pursue justice across overlapping jurisdictions. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leah Paisner and Edward Snow are leading the prosecution. The FBI, Craig County Sheriff’s Office, and Cherokee Nation Marshal Service conducted the joint investigation, underscoring the complexity of criminal enforcement in Indian Country.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office and FBI are urging any additional victims to come forward. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office at (405) 290-7770. An indictment is not a conviction—Roy Edward Williams is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.