California Woman Sentenced for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender in South Carolina

Contact Person: William E. Day II (803) 929-3000

Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that Shana Marie Lawson, age 36, was sentenced in federal court in Columbia, South Carolina, for failure to register as a sex offender, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2250(a).  Chief United States District Judge J. Michelle Childs of Columbia sentenced Lawson to 15 months to be followed by 5 years supervised release .

Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that Lawson was sentenced in Virginia for "Travel with Intent to Engage in Sexual Act with a Minor." After serving her sentence in Florida, Lawson moved to California and registered as a sex offender, but then moved to Lancaster, South Carolina, without registering. Investigation revealed that she had been living with someone she met in prison and that person’s family.

The case was investigated by agents of the U.S. Marshal.  Assistant United States Attorney William E. Day II of the Columbia office prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.