In Knoxville, Tennessee, the former Director of Nuclear Energy Programs at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has been taken into custody amid serious allegations. The investigation points to Andrew Worrall, 56, soliciting explicit messages and images from underage girls.

Worrall is facing multiple charges, including attempted coercion and enticement, sex trafficking of a child, and child exploitation for creating child pornography. According to a spokesperson, he is no longer affiliated with the US Department of Energy’s largest national lab.

The investigation was prompted earlier this year when an 18-year-old woman reported her interactions with Worrall by sending screenshots of their text conversations to an ORNL ethics hotline. In her report, she disclosed that she had informed Worrall she was 16 years old, and the messages, which were sent from a phone number associated with his official ORNL contact, included discussions about meeting and arranging travel.

Authorities examined Snapchat data linked to Worrall and discovered sexually explicit communications with numerous users, many of whom claimed to be under 18. One particular user told investigators that Worrall had paid her $20 for explicit images and videos. Her age was verified as underage through her driver’s permit.

The Snapchat account was traced back to Worrall’s residence in Farragut, leading investigators to execute a search warrant at his home earlier this month.

Worrall’s archived biography from ORNL reveals his past roles, including serving as Deputy Director for the Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear, an initiative by the US Department of Energy, and as the Laboratory Lead Coordinator for nuclear energy research programs between the US and the UK.

Worrall, who is English, was given the Award for Outstanding Alumni by Lancaster University, UK, for “an outstanding national and international reputation”. He was awarded the Secretary of Energy’s Achievement Award in 2021.