Former Palm Springs Resident, Now Top 10 FBI Fugitive, Wanted for Allegedly Having Sex with Boys in Phillipines

A former resident of Palm Springs has been indicted on suspicion of engaging in sex acts with two boys in the Philippines, and he was added Monday to the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, according to federal officials in Los Angeles.

Walter Lee Williams, 64, is identified by the FBI as a former university professor, and a reward of $100,000 is offered for information leading directly to his arrest.

According to an indictment unsealed Friday June 14, Williams allegedly traveled from Los Angeles to the Philippines in January 2011 to engage in sex acts with two 14-year-old boys he met online in 2010.

Before his trip, Williams allegedly engaged in sexual activity via Internet webcam sessions with the same boys and expressed a desire to visit them in the Philippines to have sex, according to the indictment.

"While in the Philippines, he allegedly engaged in sex acts with both boys and produced sexually explicit photos of one of the boys," federal officials said in a statement. "Williams fled the Los Angeles area approximately one week after returning from the Philippines."

The indictment, filed on April 30 in U.S. District Court, Central District of California, charges Williams with one count of producing child pornography, one count of traveling for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a minor, and two counts of engaging in illicit sexual conduct in foreign places.

Williams is described as 5 feet 9 inches tall, about 180 pounds, with grayish-brown hair and brown eyes.

"Williams has previously resided in Palm Springs, Calif., and he was affiliated with a religious organization known as the Buddhist Universal Association in Los Angeles," federal officials said. "Williams has an extensive history of travel throughout the Southeast Asia region, specifically the Philippines."

He has reportedly resided in Indonesia, Polynesia and Thailand, and he is alleged to have owned property in Thailand, federal officials said. He may also travel to Mexico and Peru.

For more info about Williams, visit the following FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitive web page www.fbi.gov/wanted/topten/walter-lee-williams.