Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., has announced the guilty plea of a man for sex trafficking and stalking a vulnerable woman. Winston Williams, 43, preyed on a woman with a substance use disorder, manipulating her into a commercial sex operation by creating a debt she could never pay off. According to the Manhattan DA's office, Williams pleaded guilty to one count each of Sex Trafficking and Stalking in the First Degree. He is expected to be sentenced to 5-to-15 years in state prison on June 10.
This case highlights the methods traffickers use to exploit individuals with substance use disorders. The victim was targeted due to her addiction, according to court documents, which state that Williams provided her with drugs and then deducted the cost from her earnings. He also used violence and threats to maintain control. The coercive operation reportedly took place between January and October 2023.
Assistant D.A. Jeannie Campbell-Urban led the prosecution, with the support of Courtney Razner, Jonathan Junig, and Justin McNabney of the Special Victims Division. The prosecution team worked in collaboration with Senior Investigators Ariela DaSilva and Sean Ryan, with assistance from Digital Evidence Analyst Leslie Martinez and Investigative Analyst Leila Jiadi. In the court, Williams admitted to his predatory behavior and the systematic abuse of his victim's vulnerabilities.
The District Attorney emphasized the importance of community awareness and reporting in these cases. "Traffickers target vulnerable New Yorkers all too often, as this defendant did by specifically seeking out someone with substance use disorders," Bragg stated in the press release, urging those with information about forced labor or sexual exploitation to contact the Human Trafficking Unit for help. The DA's office expressed gratitude towards the NYPD's 104th Precinct for their role in the case.
