Maryland Man Pleads Guilty to Huaman Trafficking Charges

by
August 17, 2024

HARRISONBURG, VA – William O’Neil Murray III, 36, has pleaded guilty to federal charges of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion. His conviction stems from exploiting the drug dependencies of at least three women to force them into commercial sex work.

According to court documents, Murray’s operation ran from December 2021 through July 2022 across multiple states, including Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, West Virginia, New York, New Jersey, and Florida. He meticulously managed the victims’ access to narcotics, maintaining control by being the sole provider of the drugs and leveraging their addiction to enforce compliance with his demands.

Victims were coerced into commercial sex acts, arranged through websites like Skipthegames.com, with Murray setting up dates, pricing, and locations, and taking all earnings. He imposed strict rules, requiring constant communication during their appointments and severely restricting their movements.

U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh, along with Stanley M. Meador of the FBI’s Richmond Office and Colonel Gary T. Settle of the Virginia State Police, announced the guilty plea, emphasizing the coordinated efforts in tackling such severe exploitation.

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton

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