FEDS: Williamson Sex Offender Charged with Possession of Child Pornography
A Williamson man has been charged in federal court with receiving and possessing child pornography, following an investigation involving state and federal authorities.
Joseph Hudson III, 26, was arrested after investigators linked him to a series of suspected child sexual abuse materials uploaded to a Microsoft platform, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a report about the files on March 14 and forwarded the information to New York State Police. Authorities say the uploads were traced to Hudson, who is a registered sex offender with a previous conviction in state court for sexually abusing a child under the age of 11.
A search warrant was executed at Hudson’s residence in Wayne County, where investigators seized a computer. A forensic analysis reportedly uncovered 198 images and 112 videos containing child sexual abuse material, including some depictions of violence involving young children.
Hudson appeared in U.S. District Court on Monday and is being held pending a detention hearing. If convicted, he faces a minimum of 15 years and up to 40 years in prison, along with a potential $250,000 fine.
The investigation was led by the New York State Police and Homeland Security Investigations. Prosecutors emphasized that the charges are accusations at this stage and that Hudson is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.