Child Pornography Production Lands Couple Decades in Prison

A disturbing case of child pornography production has shaken Michigan, as a couple has been sentenced to decades in prison for their heinous crimes.

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – Sherri Smith, 48, of Osceola, Indiana, and Joseph Williams, 53, of Watervliet, were in a dating relationship and exploited six children in their care and custody to produce multiple images of child pornography. The victims ranged in age from six months to fourteen years.

Williams, in particular, shared some of the images with an undercover police officer in Cincinnati via an encrypted messaging application, which led to their investigation and prosecution. Smith pleaded guilty on October 17, 2017, to two counts of production of child pornography. Williams pleaded guilty on December 7, 2017, to two counts of production of child pornography and one count of distribution of child pornography.

U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge stated, ‘This prosecution and sentence demonstrates that this kind of depravity will be prosecuted and punished to the fullest extent of the law. My office will not tolerate the abuse and exploitation of children.’

Chief U.S. District Court Judge Robert Jonker described Williams’s residence as a ‘child pornography house of horrors’ and noted that this case was ‘truly, if not the worst, then one of the two or three worst cases’ he had seen. Judge Jonker sentenced Smith to 60 years in prison and Williams to 80 years in prison.

Timothy R. Slater, Special Agent in Charge, Detroit FBI, stated, ‘The significance of these sentences underscores the importance of keeping innocent children safe from predators. It is our hope that each of the victims in this case can gain a sense of closure and begin the healing process.’

This case was investigated by FBI offices in Cincinnati, Ohio, St. Joseph, Michigan, and South Bend, Indiana. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexis M. Sanford prosecuted the case, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Indiana assisted in the investigation.

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