A Brookline man is facing years in federal prison after admitting he sent obscene images to someone he believed was a 14-year-old girl, who turned out to be an undercover federal agent. William Kahn, 28, pleaded guilty on Wednesday, May 20, in U.S. District Court in Boston and remains locked up while he waits for a Sept. 22 sentencing date. Prosecutors say the online exchanges happened in mid-2025 and included talk of meeting in person.
Plea and prosecutors' account
According to The Boston Globe, Kahn pleaded guilty to attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor. Between June and August 2025, prosecutors say, he engaged in sexually explicit chats with an undercover agent posing as a 14-year-old, sent a photograph of an adult's erect genitalia and discussed meeting the person he thought was a minor in real life. The plea was entered before U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young, who set the Sept. 22, 2026, sentencing date.
Plea deal and alleged obstruction
As reported by The Boston Globe, the plea agreement filed in court asks prosecutors to recommend a six-year prison term followed by three years of supervised release. The Globe's account says the agreement alleges Kahn "willfully obstructed" the investigation after agents seized his electronic devices, contacting the undercover and urging the supposed girl to tell her parents the FBI had been looking for him. Kahn's lawyer did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Penalty range and what comes next
The charge carries a statutory maximum of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000, per the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Sentencing will be guided by the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and by any arguments the parties make at the hearing. Kahn remains held pending the Sept. 22 hearing in Boston.
Where this fits locally
Federal prosecutors said the case is handled under Project Safe Childhood, the nationwide initiative that targets online predators and child exploitation. The Boston Globe has reported on related prosecutions in the region, including the March conviction and sentencing of a Burlington high-school wrestling coach who sent obscene images to an undercover account, a case officials say follows a similar pattern.
Kahn is scheduled to return to federal court for sentencing on Sept. 22, 2026, when the judge will weigh the plea agreement and any additional filings. Authorities continue to urge parents to keep a close eye on kids' social media accounts and to report suspected exploitation to local law enforcement or the FBI's tips line.
