Booneville man sentenced in drug trafficking case

Credit: U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Mississippi

A Booneville man was sentenced today to 15 years in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

According to court documents, Justin Williams, 34, of Booneville, Mississippi, pled guilty in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Williams was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Glen H. Davidson to 180 months in prison and a $10,000 fine.  He was further sentenced to 5 years of supervised release following his release from prison. In addition, the court ordered Williams to forfeit more than $100,000 and various jewelry items that were identified as drug proceeds.

Williams was involved in a drug trafficking organization responsible for transporting large quantities of methamphetamine from Texas and distributing it throughout the Northern District of Mississippi and elsewhere. Williams participated in the conspiracy by being a source of supply for large quantities of methamphetamine distributed throughout the Northern District of Mississippi. Williams arranged to have the controlled substances shipped through commercial package delivery services into Mississippi, where he would then distribute the controlled substance throughout the Northern District of Mississippi. The investigation of this drug trafficking organization and its participants spanned more than a year. Williams was indicted along with sixteen other individuals, including Chuckie Leach and Gary Ricks. Leach was recently sentenced to 151 months imprisonment followed by 3 years of supervised release while Ricks was sentenced to 188 months imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release. 

“The distribution and use of methamphetamine has devastating consequences for communities across our Country, and many towns throughout our District have felt its harsh effects,” stated U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “The arrest and prosecution of those who contribute to this problem is a priority for the U.S. Attorney’s Office as well as our federal, state and local law enforcement partners, and we will continue to work together to hold accountable those who distribute dangerous drugs like methamphetamine in the Northern District of Mississippi.”

“Justin Williams’s sentencing sends a clear message that drug trafficking will not be tolerated in the Northern District of Mississippi,” remarked Bradford L. Byerley, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA. “Methamphetamine is an addictive drug with devastating consequences for individuals and families. We will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute those who are responsible for bringing dangerous drugs into our communities.”

The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics investigated the case. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

Agencies assisting with the investigation included the United States Marshals Service, the United States Postal Inspector’s Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly M. Hampton, Feleica L. Wilson and Sam Wright prosecuted the case.