Evergreen Reporter

A Maryland man has been sentenced to 18 years in federal prison for sex trafficking charges. William O’Neil Murray III, aged 36, pleaded guilty in August 2024 to one count of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion. Alongside his prison sentence, Murray was ordered to pay $94,190 in restitution to his victims.

Acting United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee emphasized the importance of combating human trafficking: "The fight against human trafficking is a cornerstone of the Department of Justice," he said. Lee expressed gratitude towards the FBI, Virginia State Police, and Frederick County Sheriff’s Office for their role in bringing the case to justice.

Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division, stated: “This sentencing is a powerful reminder that the FBI Richmond team will tirelessly work to free victims of sex trafficking and bring to justice those who seek to exploit their vulnerabilities for personal gain.” He also commended the efforts of the I-81 Human Trafficking Task Force in investigating these crimes.

Court documents revealed that from December 2021 through July 2022, Murray operated a multistate sex trafficking operation involving at least three adult female victims. He exploited their drug dependencies as a means of control, managing every aspect of their commercial sex work and receiving all proceeds from it.

Murray's criminal activities spanned several states including Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, West Virginia, New York, New Jersey, and Florida. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s I-81 Human Trafficking Task Force (I-81 HTTF), along with local law enforcement agencies.

The I-81 HTTF is dedicated to identifying and prosecuting human trafficking cases along the I-81 corridor while providing assistance to affected victims. This collaborative effort includes various law enforcement bodies across multiple counties and towns.

The prosecution team includes Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melanie Smith and Sally J. Sullivan alongside Trial Attorney Christina Randall-James from the Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit of the Department of Justice.