Leader Of Macon-Based Sex Trafficking Operation Sentenced In Federal Court, Cohort Also Sentenced

MACON—The leader of a sex trafficking operation involving seven victims was sentenced to 174 months in prison, announced Charles E. Peeler, the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia. Najiy Williams, a/k/a “King”, age 36 of Macon, Georgia, was sentenced in federal court today by the Honorable Marc T. Treadwell on the charge of Inducement to Travel to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity. The sentence includes a $250,000 fine and a term of lifetime supervised release. In addition, Hamza Abdul Vasser, a/k/a “Joseph” a/k/a “Joey,” age 29 of Douglasville, Georgia, was sentenced to 21 months imprisonment and a term of lifetime supervised release on the charge of Transportation for Illegal Sexual Activity. Both defendants will be required to register as sex offenders upon release from prison.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) first received information that Mr. Williams was trafficking women and with assistance from the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, identified seven adult women who said they were forced to have sex in hotel rooms in the Macon area, as well as cities across the southeast, including Charleston, South Carolina and Valdosta, Georgia, between September 2015 and February 2017. According to the plea agreement, one victim reported engaging in more than 550 sex acts. Several victims said they responded to advertisements for models and actors posted on various websites, including “Craigslist” and encountered Mr. Williams. One victim traveled by bus from as far away as Ohio to Macon, Georgia, in response to an online advertisement for a film audition. Mr. Vasser admitted to driving one female victim in August 2016 from South Carolina to Georgia for the purpose of engaging in prostitution.

“There is no place for human sex trafficking in our community. It is degrading to the victims and is otherwise a blight on society,” said Charles Peeler, the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia. “I want to thank the great investigative work of the FBI, GBI and the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office to end this illegal sex trafficking operation, and helping release these victims from a hopeless trap.”

“These two defendants showed a complete disregard for the women they coerced into sex trafficking,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI thanks our state and local law enforcement partners for their assistance in taking these two predators off our streets and helping us rescue their victims.”

“We can all be thankful that the teamwork of all agencies involved resulted in these horrific criminals being taken off the street and put behind bars where they belong,” said Bibb County Sheriff David Davis.

Assistant United States Attorneys Julia C. Bowen and Shanelle C. Booker are prosecuting the case for the United States. Questions can be directed to Pamela Lightsey, Public Information Officer, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2603 or Melissa Hodges, Public Affairs Director (Contractor), United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 765-2362.