Jury convicts in rape, sex trafficking of teen, woman in Twin Cities home; accomplice pleads guilty

Jurors have convicted a man for bringing a teenage girl and a young woman to an alleged accomplice’s suburban Twin Cities home, where they were drugged and raped by the two men who often had girls from off the street at the apartment.

Billy Ray Wiley, 52, of Stillwater was found guilty Tuesday in Washington County District Court on two counts of sex trafficking, and one each of first- and third-degree criminal sexual conduct in connection with scouting for women and girls in the metro area and coercing them with money or drugs to come to a Mahtomedi apartment, where they were assaulted.

Along with their verdicts, the jurors also found factors in Wiley’s crimes that were especially aggravating, meaning he could be sentenced to a term longer than state guidelines. Wiley is jailed without bail ahead of sentencing, which is scheduled for Jan. 7.

Co-defendant Michael Lewis, 69, pleaded guilty Friday to third-degree criminal sexual conduct. The plea agreement between the defense and the prosecution calls for a three-year sentence to be set aside in favor of no more than a year in jail and five years’ probation. Lewis’ sentencing is also scheduled for Jan. 7.

“This case is a horrifying example of a predator preying on the most vulnerable members of our community,” read a post-verdict statement from County Attorney Kevin Magnuson. “I truly admire the courage of the two young victims who not only survived these horrific assaults but also bravely testified at trial, despite being forced to relive their trauma when the defendant, representing himself, cross-examined them in open court.”

According to the criminal complaints and trial testimony:

On June 30, a 14-year-old girl was seen by witnesses outside the Piccadilly Square Apartments complex showing signs of being heavily under the influence of drugs and emotionally distressed. She could not control her movements and was screaming “no, no, no.”

The girl was brought to St. John’s Hospital in Maplewood, where she told task force members that Wiley had given her crack cocaine and brought her to the apartment, where she was sexually and physically assaulted by Wiley and Lewis.

Inside the girl’s purse was a glass pipe and a suspected illicit drug. Ambulance personnel searched her purse and found unopened condoms and drug paraphernalia.

The girl told task force investigators that Wiley was a “friend” who often drove around her neighborhood and would typically pick her up near a grocery store close to her home.

In a follow-up interview, the girl said she knew that she was expected “to engage in sex acts in exchange for money and drugs,” the charges read.

A 20-year-old woman told authorities that Wiley picked her up in Minneapolis on June 28, brought her to the apartment, where he physically and sexually assaulted her.

On July 8, officers stopped Wiley’s car near the apartment complex. With him was a 17-year-old girl. In the car were 13 unopened condoms and a suspected illicit substance.

Officers then arrested Lewis. A search of his apartment turned up drug paraphernalia. The 17-year-old told officers that Wiley picked her up near Dale Street and University Avenue in St. Paul and “asked her what she needed,” the charges read.