Brookline Resident Sentenced To Federal Prison In Child Exploitation Case

Justice may finally be served more than nine months after this initial arrest.

By Benjamin Pierce, Patch Staff

Sep 24, 2026 10:42 AM EDT

BROOKLINE, MA — A man was sentenced in federal court after pleading guilty to attempting to transfer obscene material to a minor, according to the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts.

William Kahn, 28, was sentenced to six years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. Kahn pleaded guilty in May to attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor after he was first arrested and charged in December 2025. As a result of the conviction, Kahn will also be required to register as a sex offender.

Between June and August 2025, Kahn engaged in online conversations with an undercover agent who was pretending to be a 14-year-old girl. According to federal prosecutors, Kahn engaged in sexually explicit conversations with the person he believed was underage and sent a photograph of adult male genitalia.

Kahn was initially charged with attempted coercion and enticement and attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor. He later pleaded guilty to the attempted transfer charge, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

The case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Brookline, Boston and Arlington police departments. U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young imposed the sentence.

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in 2006 to combat the sexual exploitation and abuse of children.