A man from Middletown, in his 50s, pleaded guilty to sexually exploiting children, coercion, and enticement in July 2025 and was given 26 years in federal prison. The man, identified as William Scott Elam, was sent to federal prison on 10 counts. He is currently in custody with the Butler County Sheriff's Office in Ohio pending federal custody.
The 53-year-old allegedly made contact and communicated with at least 10 minor girls between the ages of 10 and 16 years old on multiple online apps, including Omegle and Discord, over a span of four years, according to a press release from the Justice Department. During his interactions with minors on online apps, he pretended to be a 14-year-old boy, according to the October 5, 2023, press release.
The matter came to light after a mandated reporter first made contact with the FBI in July 2023 with a report of a possible 12-year-old victim, according to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint. This prompted an investigation that eventually led federal officers to Elan.
What did the victim tell authorities?
The alleged victim told authorities that she had met Elam on Omegle. It is a social media platform that allows users to interact without first having to register on the platform. The platform randomly connects people in one-on-one anonymous chats.
Elam and the victim allegedly exchanged Discord contact information and began chatting on the app. She exchanged Discord contact information with what she thought was a 14-year-old boy.
After the Discord communication began between Elam, the defendant, and the victim, she told authorities, according to the affidavit, that he allegedly threatened to stop communicating with her and self-harm by cutting himself if she did not send him live sexual material via video calls, according to Local 12.
The Justice Department press release also revealed that the defendant intentionally sought out and targeted "vulnerable" young girls who "engage in self-harm, have body issues, or have other social issues."
According to a Fox 19 report, Elam allegedly coerced continued compliance from his victims by threatening to leak previously received naked images he had of them publicly. As far as this victim’s case is concerned, the government stated in its press release that Elam allegedly went so far as to create a second persona and pretend to be his 14-year-old persona's cousin, also of the same age.
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This second false persona allegedly convinced the 12-year-old victim to send new live sexual content by threatening to show "his cousin's mom" the victim's previous exchanges with the first persona.
Elam’s Discord account revealed more about his interactions with more minors
After authorities investigated Elam's Discord account, details of similar sexual exchanges and encounters with at least three other minor females surfaced. These exchanges took place between October and December 2022.
According to the affidavit, one of the victims was allegedly asked to self-harm on live video, as well as being coerced to perform live sex acts on camera.
"Predators like Elam hide behind a computer screen while preying on vulnerable children," said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II in his department's release. "But the damage they do is real, and so is the time they’ll spend in federal prison for it."
The 53-year-old allegedly made contact and communicated with at least 10 minor girls between the ages of 10 and 16 years old on multiple online apps, including Omegle and Discord, over a span of four years, according to a press release from the Justice Department. During his interactions with minors on online apps, he pretended to be a 14-year-old boy, according to the October 5, 2023, press release.
The matter came to light after a mandated reporter first made contact with the FBI in July 2023 with a report of a possible 12-year-old victim, according to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint. This prompted an investigation that eventually led federal officers to Elan.
What did the victim tell authorities?
The alleged victim told authorities that she had met Elam on Omegle. It is a social media platform that allows users to interact without first having to register on the platform. The platform randomly connects people in one-on-one anonymous chats.
Elam and the victim allegedly exchanged Discord contact information and began chatting on the app. She exchanged Discord contact information with what she thought was a 14-year-old boy.
After the Discord communication began between Elam, the defendant, and the victim, she told authorities, according to the affidavit, that he allegedly threatened to stop communicating with her and self-harm by cutting himself if she did not send him live sexual material via video calls, according to Local 12.
The Justice Department press release also revealed that the defendant intentionally sought out and targeted "vulnerable" young girls who "engage in self-harm, have body issues, or have other social issues."
According to a Fox 19 report, Elam allegedly coerced continued compliance from his victims by threatening to leak previously received naked images he had of them publicly. As far as this victim’s case is concerned, the government stated in its press release that Elam allegedly went so far as to create a second persona and pretend to be his 14-year-old persona's cousin, also of the same age.
ALSO READ: Indiana teen given 12-year sentence after conviction for planning mass school shooting in Mooresville, thwarted when friend tipped off FBI; all you need to know
This second false persona allegedly convinced the 12-year-old victim to send new live sexual content by threatening to show "his cousin's mom" the victim's previous exchanges with the first persona.
Elam’s Discord account revealed more about his interactions with more minors
After authorities investigated Elam's Discord account, details of similar sexual exchanges and encounters with at least three other minor females surfaced. These exchanges took place between October and December 2022.
According to the affidavit, one of the victims was allegedly asked to self-harm on live video, as well as being coerced to perform live sex acts on camera.
"Predators like Elam hide behind a computer screen while preying on vulnerable children," said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II in his department's release. "But the damage they do is real, and so is the time they’ll spend in federal prison for it."
