COLUMBUS, Ohio –– A 52-year-old Milwaukee man, William Scott Elam, faces serious allegations of impersonating a 14-year-old online, targeting and exploiting an estimated 20 underage females across various websites and apps.
According to an affidavit supporting the criminal complaint, the FBI in Milwaukee was alerted in July 2023 by a mandated reporter about a potential child victim, a 12-year-old girl. This young girl reportedly engaged with Elam on a free online chat platform where users are paired randomly for one-on-one anonymous chats, identified only as “you” and “stranger.”
The investigation reveals that after their primary interaction on this website, Elam and the victim switched to another app to continue their conversation. During these interactions, Elam allegedly posed as a 14-year-old boy. He is accused of coercing the child into sending explicit material by threatening self-harm if she did not comply.
In a concerning twist, Elam is also alleged to have created a second online identity, presenting himself as the “cousin” of the 14-year-old persona. With this identity, he purportedly threatened the young girl, saying he would reveal her prior interactions with Elam to “his cousin’s mom” unless she sent more explicit content.
A probe into Elam’s digital accounts has allegedly uncovered similar encounters with at least three other minors between October and December 2022. Among these revelations, it’s claimed that Elam pressured one victim into performing explicit acts on camera and even directed her to self-harm on live video.
Sexual exploitation of children carries severe federal penalties. If convicted, Elam could face between 15 to 30 years in prison for child exploitation and an additional 10 years to life for coercion and enticement.