Man Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison in Washington County Sex Trafficking Case
Published: March 6th, 2026 |
WASHINGTON COUNTY MN: A man convicted in a Washington County sex trafficking case has been sentenced to decades in prison following an investigation by the East Metro Human Trafficking Task Force.
According to authorities, Billy Ray Wiley was sentenced on February 27th to 40 years in prison after a jury found him guilty of two counts of sex trafficking, one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, and one count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct. Jurors also found aggravating factors that allowed the court to impose a sentence above the standard guidelines.
The case began on June 30, 2025, when Washington County sheriff’s deputies responded to an apartment complex in Mahtomedi after receiving a report of a 14-year-old girl in distress. Deputies arriving at the scene found the girl under the influence of drugs.
Investigators with the East Metro Human Trafficking Task Force (EMHTTF) later learned the girl had been picked up in Minneapolis and brought to the Mahtomedi apartment, where authorities say she was given drugs and sexually assaulted.
During the investigation, detectives reviewed surveillance footage that showed the suspect bringing several young females in intoxicated states to the apartment in the weeks leading up to the incident. Authorities identified Wiley as the person who transported juvenile females to the apartment.
Officials say the case ultimately involved two victims.
Washington County Sheriff Dan Starry said the case highlights the commitment of local agencies to combat trafficking.
“We are dedicated, along with our local public safety partners, to combat sex and human trafficking within our communities,” Starry said.
Authorities credited the work of Sgt. Danelle Erickson of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Detective Jeff Rydeen of the Cottage Grove Police Department, and Washington County prosecutor Scott Haldeman for helping secure the conviction and sentence.
Officials say the investigation and prosecution moved quickly, resulting in the conviction and sentencing less than a year after the initial call for help.