CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - The 67-year-old founder and
part-owner of Global Blue Technologies has been convicted of sex trafficking of
a minor female, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
The jury deliberated for 10 hours before convicting David
Wills, now of San Antonio and previously of Rockport and South Padre Island,
following a 10-day trial.
The jury heard that from 2012 to 2015, the aquaculture
company owner conspired with Maria Losoya and trafficked a young girl beginning
when she was only 10 years of age. Losoya and Wills used their cell phones to
arrange meetings at several different locations where Wills would sexually
assault the victim. These included multiple Wills’ residences as well as
Losoya’s in Brownsville and hotels and motels in the greater Corpus Christi
area.
The jury heard testimony that Wills promised to pay for the
victim’s college tuition if Losoya allowed him to sexually assault the young
girl. Wills also reimbursed Losoya for gifts to the victim and expenditures she
would otherwise not have been able to afford. These included an iPad, Bose
headphones, a flatscreen TV, Apple laptop, trampoline, swimming pool and a
school trip to Washington D.C.
Wills sexually assaulted the minor female multiple times
until she reported it in April 2015.
Losoya pleaded guilty in 2017 and testified at trial.
The jury also heard from the forensic interviewer who first
interviewed the victim about the sexual assaults, the nurse who first examined
her, several state and federal law enforcement officers and an expert witness
who testified about Wills' and Losoya's cell site information. An eyewitness
also described seeing the victim at a Portland hotel where Wills and Losoya met
in March 2014.
In addition, the jury heard from Wills’ former personal
assistant who testified he asked her to hand over a personal computer on the
day of the victim’s outcry. He later admitted it was destroyed to prevent law
enforcement from seizing and reviewing it.
Wills, who had a total of 12 attorneys representing him at
trial, attempted to
convince the jury Losoya only wanted more money and tried to
refute cell site location data as well as the nurse’s testimony. They also
criticized the victim’s previous statements. Wills took the stand and admitted
having an affair with Losoya but denied any sexual involvement with the victim.
The jury heard from multiple defense witnesses attesting to
the defendant’s character and successes, while attempting to contradict
testimony Losoya and the victim gave.
The jury ultimately returned guilty verdicts on one count of
conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, seven counts each of sex trafficking and
coercion/enticement, one count of attempted coercion/enticement and one count
of conspiracy to obstruct justice.
He faces up life in prison.
U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos presided over the
trial. Previously released on bond, Wills was taken into custody following the
verdict today where he will remain pending sentencing, which will be set at a
later date.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security
Investigations, Brownsville Police Department and Texas Rangers conducted the
investigation with the assisatnce of the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zahra
Fenelon, Rick Bennett and Stephanie Bauman are prosecuting the case.
No comments:
Post a Comment