GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A former high school basketball coach was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison for three counts of production of child sexual abuse material following a joint Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Gainesville investigation.
Billy McCall, Jr., 41, of Gainesville, previously pleaded guilty to the three counts of production of child sexual abuse material.
“The betrayal of trust by a coach, who is meant to guide and protect the children in his care, highlights the darkest side of humanity and warrants the toughest accountability,” said HSI Tallahassee Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Ingegno. “Those who exploit the innocence of our youth not only commit an unthinkable act but also perpetuate a lifelong cycle of suffering. We stand united with our law enforcement partners to ensure that justice is served, and that we protect the vulnerable from those who seek to harm them.”
“Crimes against children are among the most heinous types of offenses and deserving of the most significant sentences,” said U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida Jason R. Coody. “The sexual abuse of children — here by a trusted educator — robs them of their innocence and results in devastating psychological pain. We will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to investigate and vigorously prosecute those who seek to harm our most vulnerable.”
In July 2022, the Levy County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) received a report from a 15-year-old boy who was a student at Bronson Middle/High School in Bronson. The child, who played for the Bronson basketball team, reported that McCall — his basketball coach — had inappropriately touched him and solicited explicit videos from him. Further investigation by the LCSO led to the interview of two other child victims, who were also members of the Bronson basketball team coached by McCall.
On July 27, 2022, McCall was arrested by the LCSO on state charges related to lewd and lascivious molestation of a person 12 years of age or older but under 16 years of age. During the arrest, law enforcement seized a cellphone from McCall, which was later forensically examined. Extraction of that device led to discovery of numerous videos recorded at the defendant’s house through a camera installed in the bathroom that depicted nude boys engaged in sexual conduct, at least one of which included the defendant personally engaged in sexual contact with the child.
McCall’s prison sentence will be followed by a lifetime of supervised release, and he will be required to register as a sex offender and be subject to all sex offender conditions. The court also ordered forfeiture of an electronic device used to store the child sexual abuse material McCall produced. McCall’s prison sentence will run concurrent to a 20-year state prison sentence imposed in the state case for which he was arrested July 27, 2022.
This conviction was the result of a joint investigation conducted by the HSI Gainesville and LCSO. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank Williams and David Byron prosecuted the case.
To report any information about human trafficking, child sexual abuse, or the trafficking in child sexual abuse material contact the HSI Tip Line at 877-4-HSI-TIP or report it through the CyberTipline on the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s website.