Man pleads guilty to sex trafficking vulnerable woman, controlling her with drugs
A depraved man pleaded guilty to sex trafficking a vulnerable woman for nearly a year, using her addiction to keep her under his control, the Manhattan District Attorney's office announced.
Between Jan. 1 and Oct. 31, 2025, Winston Williams forced the victim into prostitution by leading her to believe she was continually in his 'debt' for supplying her with drugs — and telling her he would subtract the cost from money she made turning tricks, according to court documents.
'Winston Williams kept a woman trapped in a cycle of drugs and debts while lining his pockets,' Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg said in a statement.
'Traffickers target vulnerable New Yorkers all too often, as this defendant did by specifically seeking out someone with substance use disorders,' he added.
In addition to forcing the victim into sex work to pay down phony 'debts,' Williams, 42, used other methods to control his victim, including physically abusing her, controlling her access to money and food, and taking away her phone and government identification, the DA's office said.
Winston trafficked the victim across the city, forcing her to have sex for money in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens. He pleaded guilty on Tuesday in New York State Supreme Court to sex trafficking and stalking.
He's expected to be sentenced June 10 to between 5-15 years in state prison.
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