SAN DIEGO – Local attorney William David Turley pleaded guilty in federal court today to enticing and coercing a female to engage in prostitution.
According to his plea agreement, on or about April 30, 2018, Turley began communicating with an adult female victim whom he met on the website sugardaddymeet.com. Turley and the victim discussed entering into a “mutually beneficial relationship,” meaning that Turley would provide the victim with financial support and the victim would provide companionship for and engage in sexual acts with Turley.
On or about May 3, 2018, Turley persuaded, induced, and enticed the victim to take a flight from a city in California to Las Vegas, Nevada to meet with him. Turley paid for the victim’s flight and other travel expenses. At the time the victim boarded the flight in California, she understood that she was traveling to Las Vegas to engage in sexual acts with Turley in exchange for monetary compensation. In Las Vegas, Turley provided the victim with between $1,500 and $1,800 in cash, and Turley and the victim engaged in sexual intercourse.
The plea agreement also states that on or about May 12, 2018, Turley began communicating with the minor female victim via sugardaddymeet.com. In conversations with the minor victim, they discussed that she was 18 years old. But he was aware that she was a high school student, that she could not meet on weekends because she was grounded, and that her parents had taken her cellphone away due to poor performance in school.
On or about May 15, 2018, the minor victim walked from her high school across the street to a library where Turley was waiting. Turley took the minor victim to a Boba tea shop nearby.
On or about May 16, 2018, Turley met the minor victim at the library after school and drove her to a store where Turley purchased the minor victim a cellphone. Turley then drove the minor victim a short distance, parked the car, and engaged in a sex act with the minor. The victim told Turley she wanted to stop and needed to get home. Turley gave the minor victim $300.
U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer praised the FBI, members of the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force and prosecutors Jaclyn Stahl and Fred Sheppard for their important work. “We will do everything we can to protect victims of sex crimes and seek justice on their behalf,” Brewer said. “We are especially committed to keeping children out of harm’s way. Prosecuting sex trafficking cases is a top priority.”
“Human trafficking and sex crimes involving our children cannot be tolerated,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Scott Brunner. “The FBI will continue to work tirelessly to reveal these horrible crimes and bring safety and closure for the victims and our communities.”
