A 49-year-old Chautauqua County man has been found guilty of federal charges in connection with the sexual abuse of children, including a girl who was 8 years old when the abuse began.
William A. Quinones of Mayville faces at least 15 years in prison at his sentencing, which is scheduled for June 28 before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra Jr.
A federal jury convicted Quinones of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity and sex trafficking of a minor.
The trial stemmed from a 2021 complaint to the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office that Quinones had been sexually abusing two children over a period of eight years, according to U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross.
A subsequent investigation, conducted by the sheriff’s office and Homeland Security Investigations, identified a total of four minor victims. The victims told investigators Quinones raped or attempted to rape and sexually abused them. He also threatened them with violence or threatened to hurt their families if they disclosed what he was doing, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Quinones had regular sexual contact with one minor victim, beginning when she was 8 years old, as often as three to four times each week, according to an indictment.
The victim told investigators Quinones started paying her in exchange for sexual contact, beginning when she was 13 years old until age 16. On one occasion, Quinones took her to Erie, Pa., to pick up drugs and stopped at a motel to engage in sexual intercourse.
The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron J. Mango and Franz M. Wright.
Read the full article here