A Byron man has been sentenced to 25 years in a Houston County trafficking case involving the sexual exploitation of a 13-year-old girl, closing the book on a grim prosecution that has stretched across several defendants.
Demaria Marshawn Williams, 36, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to one count of statutory rape and one count of pandering of a person under age 18. A judge ordered him to serve the first eight years in prison, with the remaining years on strict probation, and he must register as a sex offender.
In a press release, the Office of the Attorney General said Williams is the fourth and final defendant convicted in the case and spotlighted the work of the Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit's regional Macon office. Attorney General Chris Carr said, "Four predators are off our streets and behind bars thanks to the dedicated work of our Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit."
Investigators say Williams responded to online advertisements posted by another defendant, then traveled to a Houston County hotel where the child was being harbored and sexually assaulted her, according to local reporting. 41NBC reported that Williams was arrested on April 25 with help from the U.S. Marshals Service and multiple local agencies.
Earlier convictions
The Attorney General’s office laid out the earlier results in the same release. Emma-Lee Garcia was convicted in May 2025 on five counts of trafficking of persons for sexual servitude and received a 40-year sentence, with the first 18 years to be served in prison. Noe Borromeo Hernandez pleaded guilty in August 2025 and was sentenced to 25 years, with the first 10 years in custody. Brian Tequan Smith pleaded guilty in October 2025 and was given a 25-year sentence, with the first five years behind bars.
How prosecutors built the case
The Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit opened its investigation after the girl disclosed in 2020 that she had been sold for sex in Warner Robins, WALB reported. Officials said steady investigative work and cooperation among multiple agencies led to the indictments and the eventual guilty pleas.
Chief investigator Bryan Kimbell led the probe, and Assistant Attorney General Maggie Meetze handled the prosecution, according to earlier reporting. Prosecutors said the series of convictions highlights how traffickers exploit online platforms and credited local law-enforcement partners with helping secure the arrests and sentences.
41NBC has the Attorney General's full statement along with a detailed timeline of the investigation.
