Florida Man, Convicted Sex Trafficker Sentenced To Five Life Terms
WEST PALM BEACH (CBSMiami/AP) — A Florida sex trafficker will spend his entire life and then some behind bars after he was sentenced to five life terms for years of abusing and torturing his victims.
During a sentencing hearing on Wednesday, Alston Williams, 42, disputed his victims' claims that he beat them, stuck needles under their fingernails, and threatened to kill their families.
He told Judge Robin Rosenberg the women sold their bodies for sex because they liked to shop and loved having money.
The Palm Beach Post reports Williams also claimed overzealous FBI agents and prosecutors "poisoned" people to testify against him.
Williams' lawyer Fletcher Peacock said the life sentences recommended by prosecutors were excessive.
One victim was in court Wednesday. She said she was in high school when she met Williams, adding that he abused her for seven years.
(© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
