A 53-year-old Ohio predator who systematically targeted vulnerable children online by posing as a 14-year-old has been sentenced to 26 years in federal prison, exposing the dangerous reality of sophisticated online grooming that threatens our most defenseless youth.
Story Highlights
- William Scott Elam exploited at least 10 girls aged 10-16 across seven states over four years
- Predator specifically targeted vulnerable children with self-harm issues and body image problems
- Used Omegle and Discord platforms to establish fake relationships and coerce victims
- Federal prosecutors secured 26-year sentence on 11 counts of child exploitation
Multi-State Exploitation Operation Exposed
William Scott Elam of Middletown, Ohio operated a calculated scheme targeting vulnerable children across multiple states through popular online platforms. Federal investigators discovered Elam posed as a 14-year-old boy on Omegle and Discord, deliberately seeking out girls between ages 10 and 16 who struggled with self-harm, body image issues, and social difficulties.
His predatory operation spanned approximately four years, victimizing at least 10 children across seven different states before law enforcement intervention ended his criminal enterprise.
Sophisticated Grooming Tactics Revealed
Court documents reveal Elam employed sophisticated psychological manipulation techniques to maintain control over his victims. He created a dual persona strategy, developing a second false identity as a 14-year-old cousin to introduce new exploitation scenarios and increase victim compliance.
Elam coerced children into sending nude images, performing sexual acts on camera, and engaging in self-harm activities while threatening to publicly release compromising materials if victims refused his demands. His tactics included threatening self-harm himself to emotionally manipulate children into compliance.
Federal Investigation and Prosecution Success
The investigation began in July 2023 when a mandated reporter contacted the FBI regarding a possible 12-year-old victim, triggering comprehensive federal scrutiny of Elam’s online activities. Law enforcement uncovered evidence of sexual exchanges with at least three minor females during October-December 2022 on Discord alone.
Federal prosecutors successfully secured Elam’s arrest in October 2023, followed by his guilty plea in July 2025 on 10 counts of coercion and enticement plus one count of sexual exploitation of children.
Justice Delivered With Maximum Impact
U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II characterized Elam as “a cowardly predator who hides and seeks the weak,” emphasizing that predators “hide behind a computer screen while preying on vulnerable children.
But the damage they do is real, and so is the time they’ll spend in federal prison for it.” The 26-year federal sentence represents serious consequences for online child exploitation, serving as both justice for victims and deterrent for potential offenders. Elam remains in custody with Butler County Sheriff’s Office pending transfer to federal prison to begin serving his sentence.
Sources:
Ohio man poses as 14-year-old, sexually exploits vulnerable children online
53-year-old man posed as 14-year-old to sexually exploit girls 10 to 16 years old across 7 states
Lima man sentenced 22 years prison coercion minors
