From The Tribune staff reports
BIRMINGHAM — “Kingpin” and all members of Birmingham-based continuing criminal enterprise convicted of conspiracy to distribute illegal drugs on Monday, April 18.
“Removing this “kingpin” and the dangerous drugs he and his criminal enterprise peddled will no doubt save lives and families from the pain of addiction,” Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp, Jr. said. “This sentence reflects the severity of Williamson’s actions, and he will have decades in prison to consider the impact of his decisions. This case highlights the joint commitment, dedication, and partnership between our law enforcement partners in combatting drug trafficking in our community.”
The United States Department of Justice stated that a jury convicted Williamson of leading a multi-million dollar continuing criminal enterprise. In addition, Williamson, Adrien “Slim” Hiram Taylor, 34, of Bessemer, Ishmywel “C” Calid Gregory, 38, of Mulga, and Hendarius “Hen” Lamar Archie, 33, of Bessemer, were convicted of conspiring to distribute and possession with intent to distribute heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana.
Williamson, Taylor, Gregory, and Archie were all convicted of distributing or possession with intent to distribute heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana. Williamson and Archie were convicted of using, carrying, or possessing a firearm during or in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Williamson and Taylor were convicted of several counts of using a communication facility to commit a drug trafficking crime.
“This verdict should send a message to those engaged in violent crime and distribution of deadly drugs in our communities,” U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona said. “The investigation and prosecution of violent crime continues to be our highest priority. I commend our law enforcement partners for their tireless efforts to ensure these defendants were brought to justice.”
All 18 people charged in the indictment returned on October 29, 2019, have now been convicted. The convictions resulted from a three-year investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) of this West Jefferson County-based drug-trafficking enterprise. The investigation identified acts committed in furtherance of the conspiracy over six years. Prior to the trial, 14 of the charged defendants pleaded guilty. Seven members of the criminal enterprise have been sentenced, and the remaining defendants await sentencing.
Williamson was arrested the morning of August 22, 2019, in the parking lot of a grocery store located in Homewood. Williamson was driving a 2016 Dodge Hellcat worth $80,000. At the time of arrest, he was found to be in possession of two loaded pistols (with additional loaded magazines) and almost $14,000 in cash.
All other members of the conspiracy were arrested on or about November 13, 2019.
At the time of Williamson’s arrest, law enforcement officers also seized from three of his stash houses 366 grams of heroin/fentanyl, 109 grams of suspected cocaine, 573 grams of pure methamphetamine, 52 kilos of marijuana, over $97,000 in cash, multiple firearms, and over 1700 rounds of ammunition.
“Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputies assigned to the FBI Safe Streets Task Force worked in conjunction with the FBI and other participating agencies during this 3-year investigation,” Sheriff Mark Pettway said. “The illegal drug trade ruins hundreds of lives in Jefferson County every year. We are proud to have been a part of disrupting the trade and distribution of these illegal narcotics in western Jefferson County. Working in unison with our fellow local and federal agencies, we are able to share and act on critical intelligence that is imperative to shutting down these types of operations. This case is an example of how these agencies working together successfully disrupted a large-scale drug operation. We look forward to continuing these invaluable partnerships against crime.”
Forfeiture was obtained for two high-end vehicles of Williamson: a $46,000 Ford F-250 “King’s Ranch” and a $37,000 Cadillac Escalade; over $100,000 in cash; $45,000 in jewelry; and all firearms and ammunition used to facilitate the drug trafficking enterprise.
As a convicted “Kingpin,” Williamson faces a mandatory life sentence in prison. Taylor faces a mandatory minimum sentence of twenty-five years to life in prison, Gregory faces a maximum of thirty years in prison, and Archie faces a mandatory minimum of five years to forty years in prison.