Man convicted of sex trafficking after forcing teenage girl to become prostitute
By Ethan Smith
Published in News on November 30, 2017 6:16 PM
A federal grand jury found a man guilty today of giving a 15-year-old drugs and forcing her to prostitute herself at a Mexican migrant camp near Wilson.
William Maurice Saddler was convicted of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor and sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion of a minor.
Evidence in the trial showed Saddler began a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old girl.
One day, he gave her crack, took her to a Mexican migrant camp near Wilson and forced her to prostitute herself.
After that, Saddler continually took her back to Mexican migrant camps to prostitute herself out.
Saddler abused and threatened the victim when she said she did not want to prostitute.
He was indicted for the crimes on Oct. 5, 2016, in an indictment that included four other people involved. Those four people already pleaded guilty.
Saddler has not yet been sentenced.
When he is sentenced, Saddler faces a minimum 15 years imprisonment to a maximum of life imprisonment and a fine of up to $500,000.
The investigation in this case 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 United States Attorneys Erin C. Blondel and Eleanor Morales prosecuted the case.