A Mayville man has been arrested on federal sex trafficking charges following an investigation by the Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office and Homeland Security Investigations. The U.S. Attorney's Office in Buffalo announced Friday that 48-year-old William Quinones was charged with transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity and sex trafficking of a minor.
According to prosecutors, the Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office received a complaint in July 2021 that Quinones had been sexually abusing two children over the past eight years. A subsequent investigation identified a total of four minor victims. During interviews with investigators, the victims stated that Quinones raped or attempted to rape and sexually abused them. Quinones allegedly threatened them with violence or threatened to hurt their families if they disclosed what he was doing. Quinones allegedly had regular sexual contact with one minor, beginning when she was eight years old, as often as three to four times each week. The minor told investigators that Quinones started paying her in exchange for sexual contact, beginning when she was 13 years old until age 16. On one occasion, Quinones allegedly took her to Erie, Pennsylvania to pick up drugs, and before returning home, he allegedly stopped at a motel to have sex with her. During the course of the alleged sexual abuse, Quinones allegedly repeatedly raped and physically abused her.
Quinones made an initial appearance before a federal judge and was ordered held following a detention hearing. He faces anywhere from 15 years to life in prison if convicted.
