Minneapolis man Billy Ray Wiley convicted of sex trafficking, assaults at Mahtomedi apartment; sentencing Jan. 7
Minneapolis man Billy Ray Wiley was convicted of sex trafficking and sexually assaulting a 14‑year‑old and a 20‑year‑old at a Mahtomedi apartment and is set to be sentenced Jan. 7. Prosecutors say Wiley recruited women and girls near Twin Cities streets and stores by offering rides, drugs or money; jurors answered yes to four special‑verdict questions allowing an upward departure, County Attorney Kevin Magnuson praised the victims and noted Wiley self‑represented and cross‑examined them, and investigators tied a June 13 assault video to the apartment, found a 14‑year‑old at Piccadilly Square Apartments on June 30 with condoms and drug paraphernalia, and arrested Wiley July 8 after a tracking warrant when a 17‑year‑old was in his car and drug paraphernalia was seized.
📌 Key Facts
- Jurors convicted Minneapolis man Billy Ray Wiley of trafficking and sexually assaulting a teen and a woman at a Mahtomedi apartment.
- Jurors answered yes to four special‑verdict questions, enabling prosecutors to seek an upward departure from sentencing guidelines.
- Prosecutors say Wiley recruited women and girls near grocery stores and on streets in the Minneapolis–St. Paul area by offering rides, drugs, or money.
- June 13 incident: a 20‑year‑old picked up at a Lake Street bus stop was assaulted; the assault was recorded on Wiley’s phone and investigators recovered the video and tied it to Lewis’s apartment.
- June 30 incident: a 14‑year‑old was found at Piccadilly Square Apartments (a 62+ community near Wildwood and Stillwater roads); condoms and drug paraphernalia were found in her purse.
- Arrest timeline: using a tracking warrant, police arrested Wiley on July 8 as he drove past Piccadilly; a 17‑year‑old girl was in his car and officers later found drug paraphernalia in Lewis’s unit.
- County Attorney Kevin Magnuson praised the victims and noted that Wiley represented himself at trial and cross‑examined them.
📰 Sources (2)
- County Attorney Kevin Magnuson quoted, praising victims and noting Wiley self‑represented and cross‑examined them.
- Jurors answered yes to four special‑verdict questions, permitting prosecutors to seek an upward departure from guidelines.
- Detail on recruitment pattern: Wiley approached women and girls near grocery stores/streets in Minneapolis–St. Paul offering rides, drugs, or money.
- June 30 incident specifics: 14‑year‑old found at Piccadilly Square Apartments (62+ community) near Wildwood & Stillwater roads; condoms and drug paraphernalia found in her purse.
- June 13 incident specifics: 20‑year‑old picked up at a Lake Street bus stop; assault recorded on Wiley’s phone; investigators recovered the video and tied it to Lewis’s apartment.
- Arrest timeline: tracking warrant used; Wiley arrested July 8 driving by Piccadilly; a 17‑year‑old girl was in his car; drug paraphernalia found in Lewis’s unit.