4 men receive substantial federal prison sentences in Wyoming after admitting to sexually exploiting children

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Four men were sentenced in Wyoming this summer to extensive prison sentences after pleading guilty to various child pornography charges.

U.S. Attorney Mark A. Klaassen, District of Wyoming, announced these sentences. These cases were investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), FBI, the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Washington D.C. Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

The following four men were sentenced to federal prison in Wyoming:

• Justin David Brown, 27, of Riverton, Wyoming, was sentenced Sept. 20 to 60 years in prison and a lifetime-supervised release after pleading guilty to two counts of producing child pornography.
• Robert William Cotter, 35, of Casper, Wyoming, was sentenced July 17 to 17 ½ years in prison, and a lifetime of supervised release for producing child pornography.
• David Thomas Williams, 36, of Laurel, Montana, was sentenced Aug. 13 to 12 ½ years in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release for attempted online enticement of a minor.
• Willis Steven Smith, 24, formerly of Lyman, Wyoming, was sentenced Sept. 18 to 15 years in prison, and 10 years of supervised release for aiding and abetting the production of child pornography.

The Brown Investigation

On Jan. 4, the FBI’s Lander, Wyoming, office requested HSI and DCI assistance on an investigative lead they received from another FBI field office. Initial information indicated that Brown had produced and distributed child pornography to at least one suspect on the east coast. Within hours of receiving the initial lead, agents from HSI, FBI and DCI worked collaboratively to rescue the victim and apprehend Brown.

During a post arrest interview, Brown admitted to sexually abusing a young toddler, producing images and videos of the abuse, and distributing those to others with an interest in sexually exploiting children and child pornography. In addition, Brown admitted seeking out and communicating with numerous other individuals about the sexual abuse of children.

Brown allowed law enforcement to assume his online identity which resulted in agents identifying child sex offenders within Wyoming and other jurisdictions who committed crimes against children and were charged and sentenced in the U.S. District Court of Wyoming.

These cases were prosecuted by U.S. Attorney Mark A. Klaassen, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie A. Hambrick and Timothy J. Forwood, District of Wyoming.

“My office remains committed to protecting our communities from individuals like these, who are involved in the production and sharing of child pornography,” said Klassen. “Their conduct victimizes innocent children, the most vulnerable among us, and we must do all we can to prevent and deter this crime.”

DCI and HSI, along with law enforcement agencies throughout the state of Wyoming, work together as part of the Wyoming Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.

Operation Predator

This investigation was conducted under HSI’s Operation Predator, an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators. Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 19,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child exploitation material, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children. In fiscal year 2018, more than 3,000 (3,191) child predators were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative and more than 850 (859) victims identified or rescued.

HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196.

Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.

HSI is a founding member of the Virtual Global Taskforce, an international alliance of law enforcement agencies and private industry sector partners working together to prevent and deter online child sexual abuse.