COLUMBUS, Ohio – The lead defendant in a network of men charged federally for crimes related to the sexual abuse of two 10-year-old children was sentenced in U.S. District Court today.

 

William G. Weekley, 35, of Newark, was sentenced to 480 months in prison for producing and distributing child pornography and attempting to coerce or entice a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity.

 

The investigation began when Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations Special Agent/FBI Task Force Officer Larry McCoy communicated undercover with Weekley online. From that initial investigation into Weekley, investigators were able to discover the additional defendants.

 

According to court documents, the defendants made online contact with each other and others who shared, or whom they believed to share, their sexual interest in minors, incest and child pornography.

 

After making initial contact through Craigslist, Weekley communicated with each of the other defendants on an ongoing basis through text and various other apps, including Wickr.

 

Weekley had access to a female child (Jane Doe), who was approximately 10 to 11 years old during the offenses detailed. Weekley sexually abused Jane Doe and created images and videos of the molestation, which he shared with others, including some of the co-defendants.

 

“The sentence Weekley received today is substantial and just,” U.S. Attorney David M. DeVillers said. “Weekley committed one of the worst crimes one human can inflict upon another, and this district is now a safer place with him in prison.”

 

Others charged in this and related cases include:

 



Name





Age





City of residence





Offense





Sentence imposed





Timothy F. Sullivan





51





Canal Winchester





coercion/enticement





138 months in prison, seven years supervised release





Franklin Eugene Perry





64





Columbus





coercion/enticement





288 months in prison, seven years supervised release





Brian S. Perkins





43





Mt. Vernon





activities related to child pornography material





138 months in prison, seven years supervised release





Grant D. Michalski





30





Columbus





activities related to child pornography material





100 months in prison, 10 years supervised release





Eric A. Zevely





35





Columbus





production of child pornography





250 months in prison, 15 years supervised release





Jordan I. Makowski





33





Greenville





activities related to child pornography material





132 months in prison, 15 years supervised release



 

Weekley and Perry discussed sexually abusing Jane Doe together, and made plans for Perry to join Weekley in the sexual abuse of Jane Doe. Perry encouraged Weekley to continue abusing the victim and did eventually sexually abuse the victim together with Weekley.

 

Investigators found that Weekley discussed various sexual topics with Zevely. Further investigation revealed that Zevely sexually abused a different 10-year-old victim, who was not Jane Doe, and then took and sent photographs of that abuse.

 

Weekley and Sullivan communicated when Weekley responded to Sullivan’s online classified ad titled, “I AM LOOKING TO PRIVATELY MEET AN INCEST FAMILY. Mom son brother sister.” Weekley detailed his abuse of Jane Doe to Sullivan, and Sullivan repeatedly requested to join in the abuse and received pictures of the abuse.

 

Weekley and Perkins communicated when Weekley responded to Perkin’s online classified ad titled, “Dirty emails.”  Weekley described to Perkins how he abused Jane Doe, and Perkins requested and received photographs from Weekley of that abuse.

 

Weekley also responded to a Craigslist ad posted by Makowski, which was titled “Perv guy.”  Further investigation was initiated based on Makowski’s statement to Weekley that his sexual interest was “Younger the better. 0-9.” That investigation revealed that Makowski sought out and traded child pornography involving infants.   

 

Weekly and Michalski also connected following a Craigslist ad that Michalski posted and thereafter communicated about interests in sexual topics like “family, forced” and “K9 and more.” Michalski possessed more than 1400 child pornography images, some involving children as young as two years.  He had also communicated with others online about sexually abusing children.

 

“The investigation and prosecution of these seven men show the tremendous work that can be accomplished through the collaboration of all of our law enforcement partners,” DeVillers added “For people who commit crimes like these, this case shows that we will do whatever it takes to find you, and, when you are found, we will punish you accordingly.”

 

“While no amount of prison time can undo the serious harm inflicted by this defendant, today’s sentence should send a clear message to those who engage in such heinous acts that they will be punished to the fullest extent of the law,” said Vance Callender, HSI special agent in charge for Michigan and Ohio.

 

DeVillers was joined by Joseph M. Deters, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Cincinnati Division; Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost; Vance Callender, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin; Westerville Police Chief Charles Chandler and other members of the FBI Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force in announcing the sentences imposed by U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorneys Heather A. Hill and S. Courter Shimeall are representing the United States in these cases.

# # #

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Seven Ohio men have pleaded guilty to related crimes regarding child pornography and the sexual abuse of two 10-year-old children.

 

Four of the men were charged in a second superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury in August 2018, for crimes related to producing child pornography and the repeated sexual abuse of a 10-year-old girl. They include: William G. Weekley, 35, of Newark; Timothy F. Sullivan, 50, of Canal Winchester; Franklin Eugene Perry, 63, of Columbus; and Brian S. Perkins, 42, of Mt. Vernon.

 

Three other defendants were discovered in the course of the investigation that was initiated by the discovery of Weekley’s activities. Those three men were each charged in separate cases on August 23, 2018. Grant Michalski, 29, of Columbus, was charged by criminal complaint. A federal grand jury charged Eric Zevely, 34, of Columbus, to offenses related to the production of child pornography and sexual abuse of another 10-year-old girl. Finally, in a fourth case, Jordan I. Makowski, 33, of Greenville, Ohio, was indicted by a federal grand jury for distributing and receiving child pornography.

 

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Todd A. Wickerham, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, Steve Francis, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin, Westerville Acting Police Chief Charles Chandler and other members of the FBI Crimes Against Children Task Force announced the pleas entered into before Chief U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr.

 

This investigation began when Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations Special Agent/FBI Task Force Officer Larry McCoy communicated undercover with Weekley online. From that initial investigation into Weekley, investigators were able to discover the additional defendants.

 

According to court documents, the defendants made online contact with each other and others who shared, or whom they believed to share, their sexual interest in minors, incest and child pornography.

After making initial contact through Craigslist, Weekley – who pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today – communicated with each of the other defendants on an ongoing basis through text and various other apps, including Wickr.

 

Weekley had regular access to a female child (Jane Doe), who was approximately 10 to 11 years old during the offenses detailed. Weekley sexually abused Jane Doe and created images and videos of the molestation, which he shared with others, including some of the co-defendants.

 

Weekley and Perry discussed sexually abusing Jane Doe together, and made plans for Perry to join Weekley in the sexual abuse of Jane Doe. Perry encouraged Weekley to continue abusing the victim and did eventually sexually abuse the victim together with Weekley.

 

Likewise, Perkins and Sullivan requested that Weekley bring Jane Doe to meet them for the purpose of sexually abusing Jane Doe, but it is not believed that Perkins or Sullivan actually met with Weekley.

 

One of the conversations found on Weekley’s phone between him and Sullivan was initiated when Weekley responded to an online classified ad Sullivan posted entitled “I AM LOOKING TO PRIVATELY MEET AN INCEST FAMILY. Mom son brother sister.”

 

Weekley and Michalski messaged on Craigslist about interests in sexual topics like “family, forced” and “K9 and more.”

 

Zevely engaged in thousands of communications with numerous other individuals in response to ads placed on Craigslist, including with Weekley. Investigators discovered Zevely sexually abused a different 10-year-old victim who was not Jane Doe. Zevely also engaged in communications about sexually abusing minors with both HSI and FBI undercover task force officers.

 

In a conversation on Kik messenger, Makowski sent several files containing child pornography to another individual.

 

Weekley pleaded guilty today to three counts of production of child pornography (15 to 30 years in prison), one count of attempted coercion of a minor (10 years to life in prison) and two counts of distributing child pornography (five to 20 years in prison).

 

Sullivan pleaded guilty on Tuesday to attempted coercion or enticement of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity (10 years to life in prison).

 

Perry pleaded guilty in January 2019 to coercion or enticement of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity (10 years to life in prison).

 

Perkins, Zevely and Michalski all pleaded guilty in November 2018. Perkins and Michalski pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography (five to 20 years in prison), and Zevely pleaded guilty to producing child pornography (15 to 30 years in prison).

 

Makowski pleaded guilty in February 2019 to distributing child pornography (five to 20 years in prison).

 

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the FBI Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and Assistant United States Attorneys Heather A. Hill and S. Courter Shimeall, who are prosecuting the cases.

 

# # #

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Six Ohio men who met on Craigslist have been charged with crimes related to producing child pornography and the repeated sexual abuse of at least two 10-year-old girls.

Four of the men were charged in a second superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury yesterday. They include: William G. Weekley, 34, of Newark; Timothy F. Sullivan, 49, of Canal Winchester; Franklin Eugene Perry, 62, of Columbus; and Brian S. Perkins, 42, of Mt. Vernon.

A fifth defendant, Grant Michalski, 28, of Columbus, was charged by criminal complaint yesterday.

In a third case, a federal grand jury indicted Eric Zevely, 33, of Columbus. He was also indicted yesterday.

Court documents were unsealed today.

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Angela L. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, Steve Francis, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin, Westerville Police Chief Joseph Morbitzer and other members of the FBI Crimes Against Children Task Force announced the charges.

This investigation began when Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations Special Agent/FBI Task Force Officer Larry McCoy communicated undercover with Weekley online. From that initial investigation into Weekley, investigators were able to discover the additional defendants.

According to court documents, the defendants allegedly made online contact with each other and others who shared, or whom they believed to share, their sexual interest in minors, incest and child pornography.

After making initial contact through Craigslist, Weekley communicated with each of the other defendants on an ongoing basis through text and various other apps, including Wickr.

It is alleged that Weekley, who was initially arrested in January and indicted in February, had regular access to a female child (Jane Doe), who was approximately 10 to 11 years old during the offenses detailed. Weekley sexually abused Jane Doe and created images and videos of the molestation, which he shared with others, including some of the co-defendants.

Images of the abuse – which occurred from at least October 2017 until January 2018 – depicted the young girl engaged in oral and anal intercourse as well as bestiality.

Weekley and Perry discussed sexually abusing Jane Doe together, and made plans for Perry to join Weekley in the sexual abuse of Jane Doe. Perry allegedly encouraged Weekley to continue abusing the victim and did eventually sexually abuse the victim together with Weekley.

Likewise, Perkins and Sullivan requested that Weekley bring Jane Doe to meet them for the purpose of sexually abusing Jane Doe, but it is not believed that Perkins or Sullivan actually met with Weekley.

Weekley and Michalski messaged on Craigslist about interests in sexual topics like “family, forced” and “K9 and more.”

Zevely engaged in thousands of communications with numerous other individuals in response to ads placed on Craigslist, including with Weekley. Investigators discovered Zevely allegedly sexually abused a different 10-year-old victim who was not Jane Doe. Zevely is also alleged to have engaged in communications about sexually abusing minors with both HSI and FBI undercover task force officers.

Weekley is charged with one count of attempted coercion of a minor (10 years to life in prison), three counts of production of child pornography (15 to 30 years in prison per count), three counts of distributing child pornography (five to 20 years in prison per count) and one count of possessing child pornography (up to 10 years in prison). He has remained in custody since his arrest in January.

Sullivan is charged with one count each of attempted coercion of a minor (10 years to life in prison), receipt of child pornography (five to 20 years in prison) and advertising for child pornography (15 to 30 years in prison).

Perry is charged with one count of attempted coercion of a minor (10 years to life in prison).

Perkins is charged with one count of attempted coercion of a minor (10 years to life in prison), one count of advertising for child pornography (15 to 30 years in prison) and one count of receipt of child pornography (five to 20 years in prison).

Zevely is charged with attempted coercion of a minor (10 years to life in prison), one count of producing child pornography (15 to 30 years in prison), one counts of distributing child pornography (five to 20 years in prison) and one count of possessing child pornography (up to 10 years in prison).

Michalski is currently charged with receiving (five to 20 years in prison) and possessing child pornography (up to 10 years in prison).   

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the FBI Crimes Against Children Task Force, and Assistant United States Attorneys Heather A. Hill and S. Courter Shimeall, who are prosecuting the case.

Indictments and criminal complaints merely contain allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

# # #