Los Angeles Man Sentenced to Prison for Persuading Women to Travel for Prostitution

FRESNO, CA—United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced that Damion Ramon Williams, 36, of Los Angeles, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill to three years and 10 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release for persuading or coercing individuals to travel interstate to engage in prostitution. Williams pleaded guilty to the charge on September 26, 2011.

According to the plea agreement, at the end of November and beginning of December 2010, Williams persuaded two women he met on a chat line in Aurora, Colo. to travel to California in order to prostitute themselves. Williams then drove a total of four women from Colorado to California for that purpose. Eventually, the two women recruited from the chat line were able to get away from Williams and contact law enforcement for help.

In sentencing, Judge O’Neill said that Williams had demonstrated a lack of respect for women, treating them as pieces of flesh to be bought and sold. Co-defendant Leticia Joyner, 23, of Fresno, was previously sentenced to 13 months in prison and five years of supervised release for her role in the offense.

This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fresno Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Elana S. Landau prosecuted the case.