Williams v. United States

MEMORANDUM *

Quinton Williams was charged with: (Count One) transportation of a female for prostitution in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2421 ; (Count Two) transportation of a minor for prostitution in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2423 (a); (Count Three) money laundering in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956 (a)(l)(A)(i); (Count Four) sex trafficking in children in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1591 (a); and (Count Five) interstate travel in aid of racketeering in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1952 (a)(3).

At Williams’s criminal trial, the government’s primary evidence was the testimony of two women who purportedly worked as prostitutes for Williams. Neither woman was present at trial. One of the women had participated in a videotaped deposition that Williams did not attend, but that was played before the jury. The other woman had testified before a grand jury, and portions of that testimony were read at trial. Williams was convicted of all five charges, and this court affirmed his conviction on direct appeal. United States v. Williams, 116 Fed.Appx. 890 (9th Cir.2004).

Williams then filed a Motion to Vacate pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 . Williams contends that his conviction should be vacated on the…