Sheriff Ben Stewart reported that Joseph Louis Williams, 43, of Madison was recently sentenced in Federal Court as the result of an indictment. Mr. Williams subsequently pled guilty to the offense(s) of Possession with the Intent to Distribute Cocaine Base and Hydrocodone, Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, and Possession of a Firearm by a convicted Felon. Williams was sentenced in FEDERAL COURT in TALLAHASSEE June 1, 2011, to 21 years and 10 months in the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Williams was initially arrested by Madison County deputies and the Madison County Drug Task Force for drug and firearm offenses as well as other charges on September 18, 2010. The Madison County Drug Task Force then requested assistance from ATF in further investigating the case. The Drug Task Force Investigators in conjunction with the Federal Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms recovered cocaine, marijuana, three firearms and a large amount of prescription medicines including hydrocodone pills. This joint investigation led to the conviction in this case. Sheriff Ben Stewart also advised that a federal indictment and sentencing is especially significant due to the fact that the defendant will spend 100% of the time sentenced in prison.
