Evansville Sex Offender Sentenced to 12 Years for Exploiting Minors via Instagram

William Virgil Russell II, a registered sex offender from Evansville, Indiana, has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release after pleading guilty to possession of sexually explicit material involving minors. Russell used Instagram to solicit and possess graphic child sexual abuse material, including posts seeking to pay women for nude images of their children and expressing a preference for toddlers. The case began when Instagram reported suspected child sexual abuse material on Russell's account, prompting law enforcement to discover 21 explicit images involving minors and numerous chat transcripts detailing his predatory behavior. U.S. authorities and the FBI emphasized that social media platforms like Instagram remain dangerous spaces where predators actively seek to exploit children, urging parents to remain vigilant. Following his release, Russell must continue to register as a sex offender and comply with strict supervision requirements. The case highlights ongoing challenges in protecting minors from online predators and the critical role of tech companies and law enforcement in combating such crimes.