Repeat Raleigh Drug Trafficker Sentenced to Over 17 Years

RALEIGH, N.C. –   Jeremiah Williams, a 40-year-old resident of Raleigh, has been sentenced to 174 months in federal prison for trafficking cocaine in the Raleigh area. Williams also received a consecutive sentence of 36 months for a supervised release violation for a total sentence of 210 months in federal prison.

“The distribution of cocaine and other dangerous drugs has no place in our community.  The Raleigh Police Department (RPD) is committed to ensuring that the flow of these dangerous substances is stopped through intentionality and a deliberate focus on prolific drug dealers. In this case, a habitual offender was taken off the streets and can no longer harm our neighborhoods. Once again, we are grateful for the strong partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of NC and U.S. Attorney Easley’s commitment to public safety,” said Raleigh Police Chief Estella Patterson.

According to court documents and information presented in court, in March 2021, RPD received a tip from a confidential informant (CI) that “Dirty,” later identified as Jeremiah Williams, was selling crack cocaine. On March 31, 2021, the CI contacted Williams by phone to purchase crack cocaine and met him at a fast-food restaurant in Raleigh, North Carolina, where the sale was captured on audio and video. On April 6, 2021, the CI contacted Williams again, and they agreed to meet at an apartment complex in Raleigh for another drug deal, which was also recorded.

After selling crack cocaine to the CI, law enforcement attempted to arrest Williams. He tried to flee but was apprehended. While running, he threw a bag of crack cocaine to the ground. A search incident to the arrest of Williams led to the seizure of 26.8 grams of cocaine, 4.78 grams of crack cocaine, 17.7 grams of marijuana, cash, and a digital scale. Following his arrest, Williams admitted to officers that he was at the apartment complex to sell drugs and confessed to selling drugs for the past few weeks. He also admitted to possessing the drugs recovered during his arrest.

Further investigation revealed that Williams was previously convicted in federal court for Possession with Intent to Distribute a Quantity of Cocaine Base (“crack”) and a Quantity of Marijuana, as well as Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking. Williams had been released from federal prison for approximately six months when he sold crack cocaine to the CI mentioned above. Moreover, the investigation uncovered Williams’s criminal history dating back to 2001, which includes several prior felony and misdemeanor convictions, multiple convictions for drug trafficking, and at least two prior convictions for assaulting a female. Williams was found to be responsible for the possession and distribution of 5.67 grams of crack cocaine, 26.8 grams of powder cocaine, and 22.4 grams of marijuana.

While Williams was detained pending the resolution of his case, when one of his family members passed away.  The court granted Williams a furlough to attend the funeral.  Upon Williams’ return to the Albemarle District Jail, it was discovered that Williams had swallowed a bag of marijuana, which had to be surgically removed from his throat.

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by Judge Louise W. Flanagan.  The Raleigh Police Department investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer C. Nucci prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for case number 5:21-CR-00336-FL.

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