Middle Judicial Circuit District Attorney Tripp Fitzner and Emanuel County Sheriff Jeffrey Brewer announced this week that multiple arrests were made in a child exploitation and trafficking case. In all four individuals were taken into custody and are facing federal charges, as the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other law enforcement agencies were also involved in the investigation.
Arrested were Jhirmichael Williams, 35, Bryon Willis, 53, Samantha Reese, 35, and Samantha Bradford, 30.
The investigation began after D.A. Fitzner’s Office reviewed evidence collected as a result of a search warrant. Upon review of some of the seized items graphic contents were found on a cell phone belonging to Willis. He has been charged with multiple offenses including sexual exploitation of children.
Fitzner’s office contacted the Emanuel County Sheriff’s Office to identify the children depicted in the video, and it became apparent that the investigation would span several jurisdictions. Fitzner then contact the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, Meg Heap, who immediately became involved.
During the investigation agents discovered even more videos and photographs along with communication that revealed Jhirmichael Williams, who is the father of one of the victims, engaged in sex trafficking and coercion involving his own child. He also financed and coordinated sexual acts with the minor.
Samantha Reese, one of the four charged in the crime, said Williams had forced her and other participants to engage in acts with minors. Williams allegedly used his phone to record several acts of child sexual abuse and then blackmailed those involved. Videos also show minors engaged in explicit acts with Reese.
The four arrested are charged with Sexual Trafficking of Minor, Production of Child Pornography, Possession of Child Pornography, Enticement and Attempted Enticement of Minor, and Aiding and Abetting the Production and Distribution of Child Pornography. Those charges are based on evidence gathering including videos, recordings, still images, text messages, and interviews and testimonies from the victims.
This investigation is continuing, and authorities ask anyone with information to contact law enforcement.
