Jury convicts

Mayville man of sex trafficking

BUFFALO — A Mayville man has been convicted of sex trafficking a minor.

U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced Friday that a federal jury has convicted William A. Quinones, 49, of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity and sex trafficking of a minor. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum of life.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron J. Mango and Franz M. Wright, who handled the prosecution of the case, stated that in July 2021, the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office received a complaint that Quinones had been sexually abusing two children over the past eight years. A subsequent investigation identified a total of four minor victims. During interviews with investigators, the victims stated that Quinones raped or attempted to rape and sexually abused them.

Quinones threatened them with violence or threatened to hurt their families if they disclosed what he was doing. Quinones had regular sexual contact with one minor victim, referred to in the indictment, beginning when she was eight years old, as often as three to four times each week.

The minor victim told investigators that Quinones started paying her in exchange for sexual contact, beginning when she was 13 years old until age 16 years old. On one occasion, Quinones took her to Erie, Pa., to pick up drugs. Prior to returning home, Quinones stopped at a motel to engage in sexual intercourse. During the course of the sexual abuse, Quinones repeatedly raped and physically abused her.

The verdict is a result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino, and the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff James Quattrone.

Sentencing is scheduled for June 28 at 9:30 a.m. before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. who presided over the trial.

JAMESTOWN POLICE DEPARTMENT

– Terry L. Kendall Jr., 33, and Dale R. Linkous Jr., 25, both of Jamestown, have been charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance after a Thursday incident.

At 1:59 a.m., officers observed a vehicle making a left hand turn in an intersection on Buffalo Street that had a steady red light. Officers conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and determined that the two occupants of the vehicle, Kendall Jr. and Linkous were both in possession of a quantity of fentanyl. Both subjects were booked and later released.

– Heather Babyak, 53, no address listed, was charged with second-degree harassment, seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, resisting arrest and disordely conduct. At about 7:15 p.m. Thursday, officers responded to 23 W Third Street for an alleged fight. Upon arrival, officers located Babyak at West Third and Cherry streets acting disorderly. Upon officers attempting to place Babyak into custody, she began to actively kick and pull away from officers in an attempt to prevent officers from affecting an authorized arrest.

During the incident, she attempted to kick an officer and the nearby complainant. She was placed into custody and transported to the Jamestown City Jail where she was found in possession of a quantity of methamphetamine. She was being held pending arraignment.