Man accused of sex trafficking in Texas sent 600 messages while in custody – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

There are several new developments in the alleged Sex trafficking operation dismantled last week in a quiet area of ​​Plano.

Federal prosecutors have revealed that one of the alleged gang leaders, 40-year-old William McKinnley Garland, sent hundreds of messages from prison to people connected to the case using a tablet provided to him.

Garland appeared late Tuesday morning in U.S. District Court in Plano. The Plano resident faces federal charges of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking by force, fraud and/or coercion and duress.

Assistant District Attorney Marisa Miller informed Judge Kim Johnson that Garland was allowed to have a tablet in jail and that he used it to send about 600 messages to people, including co-defendants in the case.

Miller requested that the tablet be removed. Johnson immediately complied with the request and warned Garland not to contact co-defendants, potential witnesses and victims in the case.

Garland did not deny sending the messages, but told Johnson he did not learn of the restrictions until Tuesday.

Garland is being held in the Fannin County Jail, according to a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office.

NBC 5 asked how and why the accused sex trafficker was allowed to use the electronic device.

A spokesperson said several prisons have tablets available for inmates to use.

The decision as to why Garland was allowed to use the electronic device was left to the U.S. Marshals Service.

Before this revelation, the judge allowed Garland's top defense attorney, Michael Price II, to withdraw as his attorney. Price filed a motion to withdraw, citing a prior attorney-client relationship with the defendant.

Price added that he was not aware of the type of charges filed and the underlying factual allegations.

Price had not received any money for legal fees when he filed the motion. He further stated, “Given the nature, complexity of the extensive investigation and the continued detention of the defendant, counsel respectfully requests that his representation in this matter be withdrawn.”

The court will assign Garland an attorney for his arraignment and arraignment, which will be rescheduled for Thursday.

A third suspect accused of the major burglary appeared in court for the first time on Tuesday.

Anastasiya Claire Lyons, also known as Frosty, is charged in the Eastern District of Texas with conspiracy to commit human trafficking by force, fraud and coercion between 2015 and December of this year, according to online court records.

The years-long investigation by local and federal police culminated with the early morning raid on Garland's home on Sowerby Drive in Plano.

Neighbors told NBC 5 they had a feeling something nefarious was going on at the home. They described a revolving door of young women coming and going, large bags being brought in and out of the house in the middle of the night and reported seeing several luxury vehicles pulling up to the house at all times.

Neighbors noted that Garland kept a low profile and was never loud or disruptive.

Several neighbors recall that Texas Rangers and SWAT officers raided the same home about two years ago but left without arresting anyone.

The 40-year-old and others are accused of recruiting young women to work as escorts and then, after enticing them, forcing them to “perform commercial sex acts for Garland or those working under his direction, often through force or threats of force,” according to a news release issued after the raid, which federal authorities described as a “years-long investigation.”

An alleged female accomplice facing federal charges of coercion appeared in court last week, as did 24-year-old Jalen Bobo, who pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and coercion.

The family of a woman they say was coerced by Garland for years attended Tuesday's hearing and told NBC 5 that “this is long overdue.” They described Garland as a dangerous man.

Detectives believe others may have worked for or encountered the criminal organization and urge them to contact Plano police at 972-941-2044.