Childersburg Man Sentenced for Possession of Child Pornography

 BIRMINGHAM, Ala. –  A federal judge today sentenced a Childersburg man for possession of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Prim F. Escalona and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Katrina W. Berger.

United States District Judge Corey L. Maze sentenced William Jason Walker, 49, to 78 months in prison followed by 10 years’ supervised release. Walker was also ordered to pay $51,000.00 in restitution to the victims. In September 2020, Walker pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography. This conviction will require Walker to register as a sex offender in accordance with the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). 

“Victimization of children will not be tolerated. We will prosecute those who produce, possess or distribute child pornography to the fullest extent of the law,” U.S. Attorney Escalona said.  “Thanks to the collaborative work of the Swedish National Police and the Department of Homeland Security, a child predator has been taken out of our community for many years and will be closely monitored upon his release.” 

“HSI is proud to work with our law enforcement partners in Alabama to protect our most vulnerable citizens,” said Special Agent in Charge Katrina W. Berger, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in Georgia and Alabama. “Our community is safer now that this child predator is off the streets.”

According to the plea agreement, in November 2019, the Department of Homeland Security  Cyber Crimes Center (DHS/C3) of Fairfax, Virginia, received information from SKF, a company located in Sweden, that images of child pornography had been downloaded to a company laptop at a specific IP address. DHS/C3 agents obtained information from the representatives of SKF and determined that the laptop was assigned to Walker.  The IP address was traced to the SKF factory located in Moody, Alabama.  Walker was employed as a sales representative at that location.   Walker used his employer’s laptop, as well as an iPad and thumb drives, to view the pornographic images.  Forensic examination of the seized devices revealed 16,870 images of suspected child sexual abuse material.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case along with HSI Task Force Agents with the Bessemer Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorney R. Leann White prosecuted the case.