Press Release

Sex Trafficker Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison

August 7, 2017

On August 4, 2017, Anchorage Superior Court Judge Jack Smith sentenced Troy Edward Williams, age 50, to eight years in prison. The sentence follows a February, 2017 trial where a jury convicted Williams of one count of Promoting Prostitution in the second-degree and three counts of Promoting Prostitution in the third-degree. Williams was found not guilty of the more serious offense of Promoting Prostitution in the first degree by inducing others to engage in prostitution through the use of force.

At trial, the jury heard evidence that Williams ran a sex trafficking enterprise over a period of eight years. Williams sought out older teenagers living in difficult situations and promised them opportunities such as jobs and housing. But once the young women had moved in with him, Williams would become controlling. Williams told the women to work as prostitutes in order to financially support himself and his household. Multiple witnesses testified that Williams was physically abusive, and one witness testified that Williams would beat the women or make them sit in ice baths if they failed to give him all of the money they made from prostitution.

At sentencing, Assistant Attorney General John Haley argued that Williams is a violent and manipulative man who targets young, vulnerable women. Haley went on to explain that a long period of incarceration was necessary because Williams has a long criminal history, including seven prior felonies and more than a dozen parole and probation violations.

Judge Smith ultimately sentenced Williams to eight years with no probation. Judge Smith stated that given Williams’ prior history and his current offense that probation would not be of any value. Judge Smith also explained that people make a conscious decision to run prostitution rings and that he hoped the sentence would reflect community condemnation and also deter other people who might be tempted to start their own prostitution enterprises.

CONTACT: Assistant Attorney General John Haley at (907) 269-6343 or John.Haley@alaska.gov at the Office of Special Prosecutions.

# # #

Department Media Contacts: Communications Director Patty Sullivan at patty.sullivan@alaska.gov or (907) 269-6368. Information Officer Sam Curtis at sam.curtis@alaska.gov or (907) 269-6269.