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Ex-Jacksonville officer paid woman for child porn of 3-year-old daughter, investigators say

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A former Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office officer has been charged with paying a Texas woman for child pornography involving her 3-year-old daughter, officials say.

Michael Eugene Williams, 59, is also accused of downloading and soliciting child pornography, which he continued to do after his home was raided by investigators, court documents show.

Williams became the target of an investigation after legal compliance employees at Google alerted officers that suspected child pornography had been uploaded to his Google Drive account, a criminal complaint said.

Local investigators examined the files and determined they did show children in sexual situations and served a state search warrant at Williams’ Jacksonville home.

During the July 5 raid, officers found numerous files depicting child pornography on the man’s computer, court documents said.

When they examined Williams’ phone, they found text messages to and from a woman in Texas, the criminal complaint said.

“The messages and files indicated that an unidentified mother was producing files of child pornography of her own child in return for money provided by Williams,” it said.

Investigators were able to track the woman to Texas, where she was arrested.

The child was removed from the home by Texas officials.

The woman, identified only by her first name, Linzi, told investigators that Williams paid about $200 for 50 files of child pornography.

Williams continued to send Linzi money, even after being contacted by law enforcement in Jacksonville, the criminal complaint said.

Williams was arrested Monday and charged with publishing a notice seeking child pornography, receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography.

If convicted, Williams faces a minimum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.

Williams was reportedly hired by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office in 1994 but citing personal reasons, resigned in 2011.