Online Predators Sentenced

A district judge sentenced two men to each spend ten years in federal prison after both were charged in a law enforcement sting to detect online child predators.

Timmy Wayne Smith, 59 of McLeansboro and Joseph Randall Edmaiston, 37 of Clinton, Kentucky, each pleaded guilty to one count of attempted enticement of a minor.

“Although both men full intended to sexually abuse a child, they were apprehended by law enforcement after interacting online with a purported 15 year old girl, who was actually an undercover agent,” said U.S. Attorey Rachelle Aud Crowe. “this proactive operation successfully detected child predators lurking online, and I appreciate the actions of the officers to put these offenders in federal prison.”

Smith and Edmaiston were each arrested by police after both men traveled to a home in Marion for the sexual encounter. Following the federal prison sentence, both men will each serve five years of supervised release.

The FBI Springfield office led the investigation with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, Illinois State Police, Williamson County Sheriff’s Office, Herrin Police department and the Marion Police department.

The case was a part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.