Wilson Man Ordered to Pay Hundreds of Thousands in Restitution to Human Trafficking Victim
A Wilson man has been ordered to pay $477,618.20 in restitution to a human trafficking victim, making it the largest amount ever ordered in the Eastern District of North Carolina under the trafficking restitution statute.
According to a federal indictment, William Maurice Saddler, 36, of Wilson, was convicted of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor and sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion and of a minor. On June 7, 2018, Judge Flanagan sentenced Saddler to 480 months’ imprisonment followed by a lifetime of supervised release.
The case involved a 15-year-old victim who was prostituted at migrant camps near Wilson, North Carolina. Saddler helped the victim become addicted to crack cocaine, coerced her, and forced her to continue prostituting, keeping all the money derived from her forced prostitution.
A federal jury in New Bern convicted Saddler of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor and sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion and of a minor. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Raleigh Police Department, the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation, the Wilson Police Department, and the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin C. Blondel and Eleanor Morales represented the United States. The victim will receive $477,618.20 in restitution for her losses, including medical services, lost income, attorneys’ fees, transportation, temporary housing, child care expenses, and other items.
“Saddler’s crimes were unbelievably heinous,” said U.S. Attorney Higdon. “For years, he exploited and traumatized a child to satiate his greed and others’ sexual desires. No more. His 40-year sentence ensures that he cannot hurt other children, and his nearly half-million dollar restitution order is a small step on the victim’s path to recovery.”
Mandatory Facts: Defendant: William Maurice Saddler, Charges: Conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor and sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion and of a minor, City and State: Wilson, North Carolina, Date: June 7, 2018, Sentence: 480 months’ imprisonment followed by a lifetime of supervised release, Restitution: $477,618.20.
Key Facts
- State: North Carolina
- Category: Sex Crimes|Human Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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