The United States Attorney's Office

Middle District of North Carolina

101 South Edgeworth Street

Phone (336) 333-5351

P. O. Box 1858

Greensboro, NC 27401

Criminal Fax

(336) 333-5381

Civil Fax

(336) 333-5257

Administration Fax

(336) 333-5561

Contact:

Lynne Klauer

Assistant United States Attorney

Press Officer

336-333-5351

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 1, 2007

“CHIP” WILLIAMS SENTENCED FOR SEX CRIMES INVOLVING A MINOR

Mooresville Resident Ordered to Spend More Than 26 Years in Federal Prison

Greensboro, NC – United States Attorney Anna Mills S. Wagoner of the Middle District of North Carolina announces that Richard Norman “Chip” WILLIAMS, age 49, of Mooresville, North Carolina, was sentenced today for committing three sex crimes involving a minor.

U.S. District Court Judge William L. Osteen sentenced WILLIAMS to 315 months in prison after which he is to serve a ten year term of supervised release. There is no parole for federal criminal sentences of imprisonment.

WILLIAMS pleaded guilty to all three counts of an information filed against him by the United States Attorney’s Office. Count One charged WILLIAMS with sexual abuse of a minor, Count Two charged WILLIAMS with enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, and Count Three charged WILLIAMS with sexual exploitation of a child.

WILLIAMS met the juvenile female victim via computer when she was eleven years old, and frequently communicated with her over the Internet via email and IM (instant messaging) chats.

“The United States Attorney’s Office and its law enforcement partners are committed to identifying and prosecuting sexual predators who exploit children,” said United States Attorney Anna Mills Wagoner. “Today’s sentencing sends a clear message to those who prey on children: We will find you, we will convict you, and you will serve a lengthy prison sentence.”

The U.S. Attorney’s Office and its federal, state and local law enforcement partners are participating in Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to enhance law enforcement efforts in child exploitation and enticement cases and promote community awareness and education. Led by the U.S. Attorneys Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/. For information on how to prevent, detect, and report online sexual exploitation, please visit the CyberTipline of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at www.cybertipline.com.

The investigation into WILLIAMS’ activities was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Guilford County Sheriff’s Department, with assistance from the Greensboro Police Department.