A federal jury in Dallas has convicted a Grand Prairie man of sex trafficking a 16-year-old girl, a crime that could land him behind bars for the rest of his life.
Howard Sandford Williams, 37, was found guilty of sex trafficking of a child following a two-day trial in U.S. District Judge Jane J. Boyle’s courtroom.
The horrific crime, which was committed in Irving, began when Williams first contacted the victim, Jane Doe, through the dating app Tagged. He viewed a live video of her venting about conflict within her family and then began to exploit her vulnerable state.
Williams checked Doe into a hotel room in Irving, where he provided her with drugs and alcohol, had sex with her, and took photographs of her. He then posted those photographs online in commercial sex advertisements, which he used to arrange for adult customers to go to Doe’s hotel room for commercial sex.
According to Acting U.S. Attorney Prerak Shah, Williams is a textbook example of a trafficker who preys on vulnerable victims. ‘This defendant exploited a vulnerable teenager he found online,’ Shah said. ‘Far too often, traffickers target struggling women and girls, claiming that they can help. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and HSI are committed to fighting the scourge of trafficking, and to getting justice for the victims of this horrific crime.’
The investigation into Williams’ crimes was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, with the assistance of the Irving Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicole Hammond and John de la Garza are prosecuting the case.
Williams now faces up to life in federal prison, a sentence that reflects the gravity of his crimes. The conviction serves as a stark reminder that sex trafficking will not be tolerated in Texas, and that those who engage in this heinous crime will be brought to justice.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Human Trafficking|Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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