Marcus Choice Williams Sentenced for Forcing Women Into Prostitution

A Fort Worth man will spend the next 3 decades in prison for sex trafficking convictions.

36-year-old Marcus Choice Williams was sentenced to 30 years in prison, followed by 30 years of supervised release for various felony offenses related to a conspiracy to traffic women for prostitution. Williams was also ordered to a an $1,100 special assessment fee.

Williams, also known as “Cross Country Redd,” “Redd,” and “Marcus Choice,” pleaded guilty in March 2011 to one count of conspiracy to transport individuals for prostitution, six counts of transporting individuals for prostitution, one count of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, two counts of attempted sex trafficking by force, and one count of money laundering.

Court records show that Williams operated an interstate prostitution ring, including adult escort websites, headquartered in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, with operations in Boston and the Washington, D.C. metro area.

Williams reportedly recruited women he considered vulnerable, specifically including single mothers from troubled backgrounds, and coerced them with deception, fraud, threats, and physical violence to engage in prostitution. The women would secure a daily quota of money, and wire the funds to Williams.

32-year-old Kenya Thomas of Plano, Texas and 45-year-old Preston Petitt of Houston were sentenced in April of last year to 37 months in prison and 2 years supervised release for their roles in the prostitution rings.

“The idea that an individual can be held in captivity by another person and forced to work in the world of prostitution is shocking to most people, and today’s sentence of 30 years in federal prison, shows the seriousness of the defendant’s crimes,” said Sarah R. Saldaña, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas.