A federal agent has been sentenced to 11 years and three months in prison for traveling to eastern Washington with plans to have sex with a 13-year-old girl.
Former Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent Coby Don Williams was sentenced Wednesday by U.S. Judge Thomas Rice. Tri-City Herald. He was convicted in May of “attempted online seduction of a minor,” according to the outlet.
According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), on July 23, 2022, Williams responded to a Craigslist ad that was part of an undercover operation to find people “interested in and willing to meet to engage in sexual activity with a minor.” press release.
Over the next three days, Williams exchanged text messages with “Rebecca,” a 13-year-old girl he believed to be underage. According to the Department of Justice, the text messages discussed the minor's age, the price of sex acts, plans to have sex with the minor at a hotel, and Williams' occupation as a “cop.” (Related: Justice Department watchdog finds 'serious problems' in FBI's handling of suspected child abuse cases)
He then went to the Quality Inn in Othello, Washington, where he met with the minor. – You'll just run into the police and get arrested.
Federal agent sentenced to more than 11 years in prison for setting up sex act with 13-year-old girl in Eastern Washington https://t.co/tv1xJWYsBl
— Tri-City Herald (@TriCityHerald) September 20, 2024
Williams told officers he was in the motel room to “rescue” a minor, the Tri-City Herald reported. When officers searched his car, they found more than $4,075 in cash, two bottles of vodka, and pills including Viagra, the newspaper reported.
He claimed the victim was not a minor, Court Documents “The alleged victim repeatedly claimed to be 13 years old,” it said.
Williams will also be placed on probation for 15 years after completing his prison sentence, the Tri-City Herald reported. (RELATED: Illegal immigrant “fugitive” from ICE Nave charged with child rape in “sanctuary” state Ritzy Island)
“No one is above the law, and as this case demonstrates, the United States Attorney's Office is committed to aggressively prosecuting those who target the most vulnerable in our communities,” said Vanessa R. Waldrev, U.S. Attorney for Eastern Washington.
The former agent had a history of alcohol and drug abuse. Court Documents.
The case was brought by the Department of Justice Safe Childhoods Project, It was launched in May 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.
