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Description: Peoria, Illinois criminal law lawyer represented Defendant charged with conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine.
Christopher R. Williams, Jr. also know as "Black", age 31, from Peoria, was a large-scale dealer of ice methamphetamine throughout the greater Peoria area. Evidence established that Williams was a top-tier, primary source for other wholesale drug dealers in central Illinois whose extensive customer base included Peoria, Tazewell, Fulton, and Henry counties. Judge Shadid also heard evidence that Williams was the source of a supply of narcotics responsible for the overdose deaths of three individuals in Peoria and Tazewell Counties.
At the hearing, Judge Shadid found Williams sought and carried firearms during the course of his drug conspiracy and, further, used threats of violence to collect drug monies. Judge Shadid further determined Williams did not sell drugs to support a substance abuse habit but, rather, for his own financial gain. In total, Williams was held responsible for trafficking over 48 kilograms of ice methamphetamine from November 2018 up to his arrest on August 11, 2021. Judge Shadid commented that Williams controlled a network of drug dealers and that he contributed to the harm, destruction, and drug-related deaths in the community, noting the evidence showed some of the ice methamphetamine Williams dealt was laced with deadly fentanyl.
Williams was indicted in July 2021 and entered a guilty plea in May 2022. Count 1 charged conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute at least 50 grams of methamphetamine. Counts 2 and 3 each charged distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual), and Count 4 charged distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual).
The statutory penalties for Counts 1 and 4 were 10 years to life imprisonment, followed by five-year to life terms of supervised release. The penalties for Counts 2 and 3 were five to 40 years imprisonment, followed by four-year to life terms of supervised release.
Williams has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since his arrest in August 2021.
The extensive investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Springfield Resident Office, with critical efforts provided by Pekin Police Department and Peoria Metropolitan Enforcement Group (PMEG). Also assisting in the investigation were the Peoria Police Department, Illinois State Police, Blackhawk Area Task Force, and Tazewell County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine G. Legge represented the government in the prosecution, with assistance from the Tazewell County State’s Attorney’s Office.
21:846 CONSPIRACY TO DISTRIBUTE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, Beginning on or about November 1, 2018 and continuing until at least February 29, 2020, in the counties of Tazewell and Peoria, in the Central District of Illinois, the Defendant did knowingly and intentionally CONSPIRACY TO DISTRIBUTE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE in violation of 21 U.S.C. §846.
(1)
21:841A=CD.F CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE - SELL, DISTRIBUTE, OR DISPENSE, On or about December 4, 2019, in Peoria County, in the Central District of Illinois, the Defendant did knowingly and intentionally CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE - SELL, DISTRIBUTE, OR DISPENSE in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B).
(2-3)
21:841B=CD.F CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE - SELL, DISTRIBUTE, OR DISPENSE, On or about January 5, 2020, in Peoria County, in the Central District of Illinois, the Defendant did knowingly and intentionally CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE - SELL, DISTRIBUTE, OR DISPENSE in violation of 21 U.S.C. §841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A).
(4) IT IS ORDERED: Dft is committed to the custody of the BOP for a term of 360 months on each of counts 1-4, to be served concurrently; 5 years Supervised Release on Counts 1 & 4 and 4 years Supervised Release on Counts 2 & 3, all counts to be served concurrently; No fine imposed; $400 Special Assessment.
Outcome: Defendant was committed to the custody of the BOP for a term of 360 months on each of counts 1-4, to be served concurrently; 5 years Supervised Release on Counts 1 & 4 and 4 years Supervised Release on Counts 2 & 3, all counts to be served concurrently; No fine imposed; $400 Special Assessment.
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