ABINGDON, Va. (WJHL) — A former vice chairman of the Smyth County School Board pleaded guilty to several counts Thursday after he was arrested in a child exploitation investigation.

Todd Stewart Williams, 54, of Chilhowie, entered a guilty plea in federal court in Abingdon.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Williams spent more than $10,000 to entice at least six minors into sending him nude images and sexually explicit videos.

Authorities became aware of Williams’ criminal actions in September 2022 when a 15-year-old teenager in Oklahoma reported to the FBI that Williams had requested nude images and videos of him via Snapchat. The teen told investigators he met Williams in a Snapchat group for gay teenage males.

“Soon after they began chatting, Williams reached out to the teen and offered to make in-app purchases in an online video game in exchange for nude pictures of the teen,” the U.S. attorney’s office for the Western District of Virginia said in a release.

An investigation by the FBI found other instances of Williams exploiting minors, including using Snapchat to talk to a 12-year-old and offering to purchase items for an online game before offering to buy nude pictures and videos, according to the DOJ.

Investigators said Williams sent the victim nearly $1,000 between August 2022 and January 2024 for nude images and videos.

Prosecutors also said Williams paid another teen to take photos and videos of the teen sexually abusing his younger, 10-year-old stepbrother.

“As directed by Williams, the teen would approach his stepbrother in his bedroom at night and force his stepbrother to watch pornography and engage in sexual acts,” the release said. “Because the teen reached his $600 monthly limit on Cash App transactions, Williams mailed him a debit card hidden inside a pair of shoes to ensure he was able to purchase his videos.”

According to the DOJ, Williams paid more than $3,500 for nude images and videos of the teen and his stepbrother over a six-month period.

In another case, Williams allegedly paid more than $3,000 to a teenage boy for nude images and videos of him and his teenage boyfriend.

“In all, Williams spent more than $10,000 buying nude images from at least six underage male victims,” the release said.

The former school board vice chairman faces 15–30 years in prison, according to the DOJ.

“The Internet has expanded the manner in which young people can be targeted by those looking to exploit them,” Acting U.S. Attorney Zachary T. Lee said. “Importantly, this case demonstrates that even those who are entrusted by our communities to oversee the welfare of our children may harbor intentions to exploit them, and for that reason we must be ever vigilant and responsive when our young people report abuse.”

Lee thanked the FBI for its diligence in the case.

“There is no place in our communities for someone who manipulates and abuses children, especially by someone in a position of influence,” said Stanley Meador, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division. “In addition to committing numerous reprehensible acts against minors, Williams betrayed the trust of parents in Smyth County where he was elected to oversee the education and well-being of students.”

On Thursday, Williams pleaded guilty to four counts of persuading, inducing, enticing, and coercing and attempting to persuade, induce, entice, and coerce one or more minors to engage in any sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing any visual depiction of such conduct, in interstate commerce. 

Williams resigned from the school board following his arrest in August.