Former Amarillo Resident Indicted on Sex Trafficking and Obscenity Charges

AMARILLO, Texas — Xzavion Dayshaun Ragsdale, a/k/a “Yung Billy,” 19, was charged in a federal indictment that was just unsealed with two counts of attempted sex trafficking of a child and one count of attempted transfer of obscene material to a child.  The announcement was made today by U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.

Ragsdale, formerly of Amarillo, Texas, and most recently Dallas, made his initial appearance in federal court late yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Clinton E. Averitte, who ordered Ragsdale to remain in federal custody, pending a detention hearing set for Monday.

Count one of the indictment alleges that on December 31, 2014, Ragsdale attempted to recruit an individual, “J.B.,” knowing that “J.B.” was under 18 years of age and would be caused to engage in a commercial sex act.

Count two of the indictment alleges that on March 30, 2015, Ragsdale attempted to recruit another individual, “A.M.,” knowing that “A.M.” was under 18 years of age and would be caused to engage in a commercial sex act.

Count three of the indictment alleges that on March 30, 2015, Ragsdale used a cell phone and the Internet to transfer obscene matter to another individual who was under 16 years of age.

A federal indictment is an accusation by a grand jury.  A defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty.  If convicted, however, the statutory penalty, per count, for attempted sex trafficking of a child is not less than 10 years or life in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.  The maximum statutory penalty for attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor is 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.

The Amarillo Police Department and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Frausto is in charge of the prosecution.

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