A Todd County, Kentucky man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Greg Stivers to 20 years in prison, to be followed by a 20-year term of supervised release, for persuading, inducing and coercing two minor females to engage in sexually explicit conduct and for receiving child pornography, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John E. Kuhn, Jr.

“The predatory conduct of Williams was despicable,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney John Kuhn. “The coercion of these girls for his own gratification was not a harmless, inconsequential act to these victims. That he put the child of one of his friends through this is almost unimaginable. This case is a sad but powerful reminder that every parent everywhere must be vigilant against sexual predation, especially in the virtual world. This lengthy sentence is well deserved.”

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“This type of crime is especially egregious since he coerced several underage girls, by producing and trading sexually explicit images of them on the Internet,” said Howard S. Marshall, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Division. “These predators exploit the innocence of our children and this sentence should send a message that these acts will not be tolerated.”

Jesse Sanford Williams, age 34, pleaded guilty to all charges of the federal indictment on October 20, 2014. Williams was arrested on March 7, 2014, by federal agents in Kentucky, following an investigation that began in the state of Washington on March 28, 2013. In court, Williams admitted to blackmailing, by threat, at least two minor, teen girls, in order to receive sexually explicit images of them, by means of multiple Gmail and Yahoo Internet accounts. Only two of the victims could be identified by authorities. After receiving initial images from the girls, Williams demanded additional sexually explicit images or videos and coerced the girls by threatening to post the initial images on the Internet or send them to the girls’ parents. These activities took place between June 2011 and March 2013.

Victim-1 lived in Washington, and was 13 years of age at the onset of the Internet threats. Victim-1 appeared in court today and testified during sentencing. At one point during the time Williams coerced Victim-1, she attempted suicide.

Victim-2 lived in Todd County, and was approximately the same age as Victim-1. According to testimony offered in court today, Williams had very long and close personal relationships with the family of Victim-2, and was known by Victim-2 as “Uncle Jesse.” In his Internet communications with both victims, Williams concealed his age and identity from the victims, pretending to be a much younger boy.

During the investigation, a subpoena of e-mail accounts determined all e-mail accounts shared the same Internet Protocol (IP) address from an account located at Logan Aluminum, a large manufacturing facility located near Russellville, Kentucky. The FBI was able to identify Williams from shift schedules, IP login times and other materials obtained in the investigation. Further, Williams admitted to knowingly receiving child pornography between June 2011 and March 2013.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Marisa Ford and is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Louisville and Seattle Divisions and police in Washington State.

Dongping “Daniel” Tao, a former mining engineering professor at the University of Kentucky, admitted in federal court today that he defrauded the University out of tens of thousands of dollars, in items and services.

Tao, 54, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, before U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell. Tao also admitted that he defrauded Georgia-Pacific, LLC, a private company for whom he worked as a consultant.

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Tao acknowledged that he received grant money from the University that was intended for research, on behalf of the College of Engineering, but Tao used the money for his consulting business, paying for travel, materials, and services. Tao then sought payment from his consulting clients, as reimbursement for expenses that he had actually used the University’s money to pay.

Tao also admitted that he fabricated and altered invoices, to show fictitious costs, and submitted those invoices to the University and Georgia-Pacific for payment. Tao then received payment for these fraudulent expenses.

According to his plea agreement, between 2010 and 2013, Tao fraudulently obtained $59,411.86 from the University and $2,280.00 from Georgia-Pacific.

Kerry B. Harvey, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Howard Marshall, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, jointly announced the guilty plea.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI, the UK Police Department, and the UK Internal Audit Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew T. Boone represents the federal government in this case.

Tao is scheduled to be sentenced on June 11, 2015 at 10:30 a.m.. He faces a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and a maximum fine of $250,000. However, any sentence will be imposed by the Court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statutes.

A Kentucky man pleaded guilty today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dave Whalin to charges of transporting adult females, in interstate commerce, with the intent that the females engage in prostitution, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John E. Kuhn, Jr.

According to the six count indictment, Dwayne Watkins, age 37, transported at least six females in interstate commerce from Kentucky to other states to engage in prostitution between 2007 to August 2014. Five of the six females were often psychologically abused and physically assaulted as a means to coerce them. Watkins used various Internet websites such Craigslist, Eros, and Backpage to advertise prostitutes working for his prostitution business and facilitate communication with potential clients.

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In court today, Watkins admitted to transporting Female 1 across state lines from Kentucky to Indiana to conduct prostitution at least five times from December 2013 to August 2014. Further, Watkins admitted to psychologically abusing and physically assaulting Female 1 as a means to coerce her.

Watkins admitted to transporting Female 2 from Kentucky to North Carolina to engage in prostitution or attempt to do so. Watkins admitted to psychologically abusing and physically assaulting Female 2 as a means to coerce her. During this time period, Female 2 was homeless, and was transported with other females to North Carolina, Atlanta, New Jersey, and New York for the purposes of prostitution.

Watkins further admitted to transporting Female 3 from Kentucky to North Carolina in April 2007, to engage in prostitution or attempt to do so. Watkins admitted to psychologically abusing and physically assaulting Female 3 as a means to coerce her.

Watkins admitted to transporting Female 4 from Kentucky to Illinois, North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, between July 2008, and August 2010, to engage in prostitution or attempt to do so. Female 4 who lived with Watkins, was physically beaten approximately ten times during the two years that she was under his control.

Between February 2007 and December 2008, Watkins admitted to transporting Female 5 from Kentucky to Georgia, North Carolina, Florida, Virginia, Ohio, and Illinois with the intent that Female 5 engage in prostitution or attempt to do so. Further, Watkins psychologically abused and physically assaulted Female 5 as a means to coerce her. According to count five of the indictment, Female 5 agreed to allow Watkins to be her modeling “Agent”. However, at the direction of Watkins, Female 5 became a working prostitute and was forced to give Watkins every dollar made from prostitution.

Watkins admitted to transporting a sixth female, identified as Female 6, from Kentucky to Indiana to engage in prostitution or attempt to do so. Female 6 was never physically assaulted.

At trial, Watkins faced up to ten years in prison per charge, a fine of $250,000 per charge and a term of supervised release up to life. Watkins is in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. Sentencing is set before Senior Judge Thomas B. Russell in Louisville, Kentucky on May 19, 2015 at 11:30 a.m.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Judd and is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Louisville Metro Police Department, and Jefferson County Sherriff’s Office.

The Kentucky State Police Electronic Crime Branch have arrested a Franklin County man for charges related to possession and distribution of matter portraying a sex performance by a minor.

Scott A. Haynes was arrested as the result of an undercover Internet Crimes Against Children investigation. The KSP Electronic Crime Branch began the investigation after discovering the suspect sharing images of child sexual exploitation online.

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The investigation resulted in the execution of a search warrant at Haynes’ residence in the evening hours of February 4. Equipment used to facilitate the crime was seized and taken to KSP’s forensic laboratory for examination. The investigation is ongoing.

Haynes is currently charged with 20 counts of possession and five counts of distribution of matter portraying a sex performance by a minor. He was lodged in the Franklin Co. Regional Detention Center.

A Meridian man is in the Ada County Jail after police found cocaine, bath salts and marijuana inside his car.

Kenneth Michael Henbest, 20, was pulled over early Monday morning after police say they saw him swerving.

Officers searched Henbest’s car after a K9 drug dog alerted on it. Inside, they found 49 grams of bath salts, 34 grams of cocaine and 14.5 ounces of marijuana, police say.

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Officers also discovered a scale and other evidence that Henbest was selling the drugs. He was arrested and charged with three counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.

Henbest is currently held on a $100,000 bond and is due in court Feb. 12.

A police report obtained by LEX 18 News on Wednesday reveals some new information about an alleged assault on the EKU campus that school officials have said appears to be connected to a Richmond bar fight that seriously injured an EKU football player.

An EKU spokesperson had said that the university was looking into the January 25th bar fight at Jerzee’s that seriously injured Colton Scurry, an EKU football player. He also said they were investigating an assault that was reported a short time later inside of Telford Hall, where Scurry lived on campus.

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LEX 18 filed an open records request with EKU Police for the report involving the assault in Telford Hall. Almost all of the information on the paperwork provided was blacked out. However, the victim in that assault is listed as “Andrew H. Barker,” an 18-year-old from Burlington, Kentucky. That would be UK quarterback, Drew Barker. Another person listed as being involved in the fight is Patrick Graffree, an EKU football player who transferred from UK.

Following the fight at Jerzee’s, the names of three UK football players believed to be involved began to circulate. Those names were Dorian Baker, Tymere Dubose, and Drew Barker.

No charges have been filed in the Jerzee’s fight. Richmond Police are investigating that incident and have not released any names. The department also denied an open records request filed by LEX 18 News for a copy of that police report.

Coach Mark Stoops was asked Wednesday about the possible involvement of his players. Coach Stoops said, “To be honest with you.. I don’t know. I’m trying to gather the information. I’ve been reading a bunch of reports from what everybody said, and to this point, I don’t know what’s true and what’s not. So I just, I have certain information, and I just need to let the legal process go through its course. Right now, nobody’s been charged. I think there’s a lot of people looking into it, and I need to get a little bit more accurate information on that and see where it goes.”

Dorian Baker, Tymere Dubose, and Drew Barker were three of four people charged in a 2014 airsoft pistol incident that led to a lock down at the University Of Kentucky campus.