William Serges Joseph, Promoting Prostitution with a Minor, Montana 2024

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Hardin man sentenced to 3 years in prison for promoting prostitution with a minor

Billings, Montana - A Hardin man who promoted prostitution with a minor was sentenced today to 36 months in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

William Serges Joseph, 75, pleaded guilty in November 2024 to use of facility in interstate commerce in aid of racketeering. U.S. District Judge Susan Watters presided.

The government alleged in court documents that in March 2023, a juvenile female, identified as Jane Doe, disclosed to law enforcement that, commencing in approximately September 2022, she began showing her breasts to Joseph. The two messaged each other on Facebook and Joseph was aware of she was a juvenile. Jane Doe said she allowed Joseph to touch her in exchange for alcohol and he also asked her for naked pictures.

Jane Doe was interviewed again in June 2023. She added that Joseph continued to message her and offered her $50 for sexual contact. A review of her cell phone reflected, among other communications, a February 2023 message from Joseph with a picture of male genitalia. Joseph was interviewed in February 2024. He admitted providing alcohol to Jane Doe in exchange for pictures of her breasts.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case, and the investigation was conducted by the FBI.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the U.S. government. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.

Defendant Name: William Serges Joseph

Exact Criminal Charges: use of facility in interstate commerce in aid of racketeering

City and State: Billings, Montana

Exact Date: November 2024

Sentence or Outcome: 36 months in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release

Dollar Amounts: None

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mt/pr/hardin-man-sentenced-3-years-prison-using-phone-promote-prostitution-minor