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Date: 04-08-2019
Case Style:
United States of America v. William G. Weekley, Timothy F. Sullivan, Franklin Eugene Perry and Brian S. Perkins
Case Number: 2:18-cr-00027-EAS
Judge: Edmund A. Sargus
Court: United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio (Franklin County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: Heather A. Hill and S. Courter Shimeall
Defendant's Attorney: Barshaunda N. Robinson for William G. Weekley
Samuel Harry Shamansky for Timothy F. Sullivan
Michael S. Probst for Franklin Eugene Perry
Todd Aaron Long and Trina Goethals for Brian S. Perkins
Description:
Columbus, OH - Seven Ohio Men Plead Guilty to Crimes Related to Sexually Abusing Children, Creating Child Pornography
Seven Ohio men have pleaded guilty to related crimes regarding child pornography and the sexual abuse of two 10-year-old children.
Four of the men were charged in a second superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury in August 2018, for crimes related to producing child pornography and the repeated sexual abuse of a 10-year-old girl. They include: William G. Weekley, 35, of Newark; Timothy F. Sullivan, 50, of Canal Winchester; Franklin Eugene Perry, 63, of Columbus; and Brian S. Perkins, 42, of Mt. Vernon.
Three other defendants were discovered in the course of the investigation that was initiated by the discovery of Weekley’s activities. Those three men were each charged in separate cases on August 23, 2018. Grant Michalski, 29, of Columbus, was charged by criminal complaint. A federal grand jury charged Eric Zevely, 34, of Columbus, to offenses related to the production of child pornography and sexual abuse of another 10-year-old girl. Finally, in a fourth case, Jordan I. Makowski, 33, of Greenville, Ohio, was indicted by a federal grand jury for distributing and receiving child pornography.
This investigation began when Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations Special Agent/FBI Task Force Officer Larry McCoy communicated undercover with Weekley online. From that initial investigation into Weekley, investigators were able to discover the additional defendants.
According to court documents, the defendants made online contact with each other and others who shared, or whom they believed to share, their sexual interest in minors, incest and child pornography.
After making initial contact through Craigslist, Weekley – who pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today – communicated with each of the other defendants on an ongoing basis through text and various other apps, including Wickr.
Weekley had regular access to a female child (Jane Doe), who was approximately 10 to 11 years old during the offenses detailed. Weekley sexually abused Jane Doe and created images and videos of the molestation, which he shared with others, including some of the co-defendants.
Weekley and Perry discussed sexually abusing Jane Doe together, and made plans for Perry to join Weekley in the sexual abuse of Jane Doe. Perry encouraged Weekley to continue abusing the victim and did eventually sexually abuse the victim together with Weekley.
Likewise, Perkins and Sullivan requested that Weekley bring Jane Doe to meet them for the purpose of sexually abusing Jane Doe, but it is not believed that Perkins or Sullivan actually met with Weekley.
One of the conversations found on Weekley’s phone between him and Sullivan was initiated when Weekley responded to an online classified ad Sullivan posted entitled “I AM LOOKING TO PRIVATELY MEET AN INCEST FAMILY. Mom son brother sister.”
Weekley and Michalski messaged on Craigslist about interests in sexual topics like “family, forced” and “K9 and more.”
Zevely engaged in thousands of communications with numerous other individuals in response to ads placed on Craigslist, including with Weekley. Investigators discovered Zevely sexually abused a different 10-year-old victim who was not Jane Doe. Zevely also engaged in communications about sexually abusing minors with both HSI and FBI undercover task force officers.
In a conversation on Kik messenger, Makowski sent several files containing child pornography to another individual.
Weekley pleaded guilty to three counts of production of child pornography (15 to 30 years in prison), one count of attempted coercion of a minor (10 years to life in prison) and two counts of distributing child pornography (five to 20 years in prison).
Sullivan pleaded guilty to attempted coercion or enticement of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity (10 years to life in prison).
Perry pleaded guilty in January 2019 to coercion or enticement of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity (10 years to life in prison).
Perkins, Zevely and Michalski all pleaded guilty in November 2018. Perkins and Michalski pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography (five to 20 years in prison), and Zevely pleaded guilty to producing child pornography (15 to 30 years in prison).
Makowski pleaded guilty in February 2019 to distributing child pornography (five to 20 years in prison).
U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the FBI Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
Charges:
Weekley:
SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN
(1ss-3ss)
COERCION OR ENTICEMENT OF FEMALE
(4ss)
ACTIVITIES RE MATERIAL CONSTITUTING/CONTAINING CHILD PORNO
(5ss)
ACTIVITIES RE MATERIAL CONSTITUTING/CONTAINING CHILD PORNO
(11ss)
Sullivan:
COERCION OR ENTICEMENT OF FEMALE
(13s)
Perry:
COERCION OR ENTICEMENT OF FEMALE
(7)
Perkins:
ACTIVITIES RE MATERIAL CONSTITUTING/CONTAINING CHILD PORNO
(10)
Outcome: 04/02/2019 126 Minute Entry for proceedings held before Chief Judge Edmund A. Sargus:Change of Plea Hearing as to Timothy F. Sullivan held on 4/2/2019. Defendant changes plea to guilty to count 13 and Forfeiture Counts C and D of the Second Superseding Indictment. PSI Ordered. (Court Reporter: Darla Coulter) (cmw) (Entered: 04/02/2019)
04/02/2019 127 NOTICE of presentence referral sent to probation as to Timothy F. Sullivan (cmw) (Entered: 04/02/2019)
04/02/2019 128 Presentence Report Disclosure Notification received as to Timothy F. Sullivan. Report to be completed by Keir Pennington. Presentence Investigation Report due by 6/18/2019. (cmw) (Entered: 04/02/2019)
04/04/2019 129 Minute Entry for proceedings held before Chief Judge Edmund A. Sargus:Change of Plea Hearing as to William G. Weekley held on 4/4/2019. Defendant changed plea to guilty on counts 1-5, 11 and forfeiture counts A and B of the Second Superseding Indictment. PSI Ordered. (Court Reporter: Darla Coulter) (cmw) (Entered: 04/04/2019)
04/04/2019 130 NOTICE of presentence referral sent to probation as to William G. Weekley. (cmw) (Entered: 04/04/2019)
04/05/2019 131 Presentence Report Disclosure Notification received as to William G. Weekley. Report to be completed by Keir Pennington. Presentence Investigation Report due by 6/20/2019. (cmw) (Entered: 04/05/2019)
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
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