South Carolina Man Receives 7½ Years for Sex Trafficking

DOJ Press

NEW BERN, N.C. – A Marion, South Carolina man was sentenced today to 90 months in prison for sex trafficking. Enrique Tyreek Williams was also ordered to pay $5,600 in restitution to his victim.  On June 23, 2020, Williams pleaded guilty to one count of transporting the victim across state lines for the purpose of prostitution.

According to court documents and other information presented in court, Williams, 23, offered to let a homeless 18-year-old female live with him. After the victim was isolated from family and friends, with no money, no job, and no phone, Williams revealed his plan to have her prostitute for him. Fearing physical violence and feeling she had no choice, the victim complied. In late Summer and early Fall 2018, Williams proceeded to prostitute the victim in South Carolina, Georgia, and North Carolina, including approximately 8 prostitution trips to Wilmington, NC. Williams controlled all aspects of the prostitution and took all the money the victim earned. The victim’s fears of physical violence were realized, as she reported approximately 20 instances of physical violence by Williams in their short time together. In particular, investigators obtained evidence from an October 1, 2018 incident in which Williams dragged the victim out of a house by her hair and violently attacked her in front of numerous witnesses. Williams even video-recorded the attack on his phone. Police responded and the victim was transported to the hospital and treated. Shortly after, Williams told the victim she owed him and again took her to Wilmington to prostitute. During the trip, Williams was caught in an undercover sting operation and investigators recovered the victim.

G. Norman Acker, III, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. Mr. Acker commented: “This case is about the victim, who suffered at the hands of a greedy trafficker. Our community will not tolerate perpetrators like this defendant targeting vulnerable victims for their profit.” The Federal Bureau of Investigation and New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Stephany  prosecuted the case.

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Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:19-CR-00149-FL.


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