A Maryland man who exploited the drug dependencies of adult women to compel them to engage in commercial sex work pled guilty today on federal charges.
William O’Neil Murray III, 36, pled guilty to one count of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion.
The criminal enterprise took place in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, West Virginia, New York, New Jersey and Florida.
According to court documents, beginning in December 2021 and continuing through July 2022, Murray engaged in a multi-state sex trafficking operation involving at least three adult female victims. Murray recruited and coerced his victims into sex work using their drug dependency as his primary method of control.
Murray controlled his victims’ narcotics use, not allowing them to obtain drugs from anyone but himself, therefore taking complete control of each victim’s addicting. Murray would withhold drugs from his victims if they did not follow his directions or engage in commercial sex.
Many of the victims described becoming “dopesick” when Murray withheld drugs from them. Murray stood between them and the threat of withdrawal. Murray, prosecutors allege, knew that withholding drugs from the victims would have a coercive effect and incentivize them to obey him.
Murray managed every aspect of the commercial sex transactions. The defendant used various commercial sex websites to set up dates with commercial sex customers, set the prices, booked the hotel rooms and transported his victims to the dates. Murray received all the proceeds from the commercial sex acts.
Murray maintained strict control over his victims’ activities including requiring them to stay in communication with him while they completed their commercial sex dates. Victims were not allowed to go anywhere without Murray’s permission and were punished if they did so.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s I-81 Human Trafficking Task Force and the Virginia State Police investigated the case.
The I-81 HTTF includes law enforcement from the counties of Frederick, Clarke and Shenandoah as well as the cities and towns of Front Royal, Hagerstown, and Frederick, Md., and Lord Fairfax Community College.
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Crystal Graham
