MIAMI – An Illinois man, and registered sex offender, was sentenced to 180 months for transporting numerous images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation of three minor children following an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Fort Lauderdale.
William Ahart, 42, pled guilty to transportation of child sexual abuse material on Sept. 20.
According to court record, Ahart arrived into the Port Everglades cruise ship terminal in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., from the U.S. Virgin Islands on June 15.
Due to Ahart being a registered sex offender, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers conducted an examination of Ahart’s smartphone and discovered numerous images of child sexual abuse material.
Special Agents from HSI Fort Lauderdale responded and further reviewed Ahart’s smartphone and discovered the CSAM images were sent to Ahart on messaging applications by three minor females who he had been communicating with over several months.
HSI Fort Lauderdale agents arrested Ahart, who admitted to communicating with minor females, receiving, and viewing the CSAM images.
Further investigation by HSI revealed that during sexually charged conversations between Ahart and one of the minor victims, Ahart encouraged the minor victim to engage in self-harm. Evidence was also uncovered during the investigation that Ahart mailed the minor victim a “fun package” containing knives, candles for hot wax, thumb tacks, and a shock collar so that the victim could continue to engage in self-harm.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and HSI Miami Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury made the announcement.
HSI Miami and the South Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force investigated the case with the assistance from CBP and HSI.
Albany, N.Y. Assistant U.S. Attorney M. Catherine Koontz prosecuted it.
To report any information about human trafficking, child sexual abuse, or the trafficking in child sexual abuse material contact the HSI Tip Line at 1-877-4HSI-TIP, or report it through the CyberTipline on the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children's website.
Learn more about HSI Miami’s mission to increase public safety in South Florida communities on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @HSI_Miami.