Federal Government Takes Title and Ownership of An Oakland Park House Used to Store and Distribute Drugs

MIAMI – On September 20, 2023, U.S. District Judge William P. Dimitrouleas, in Fort Lauderdale, issued a Final Order of Forfeiture, which vested all right, title, interest, ownership, and possession of an Oakland Park house to the U.S. Government. 

The U.S. Government was able to forfeit the Oakland Park residence after law enforcement executed a federal search warrant at the house.  At the time of the federal search warrant, defendant Daniel Joe Williams, a/k/a “Daniel Williams,” was living at, as well as using the house to store and distribute drugs.  During the execution of the search warrant, law enforcement found various amounts of powder and crack cocaine, scales, a firearm, and ammunition, all of which were further evidence that the house was being used to facilitate the drug crimes. Williams pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  Williams has multiple past felony convictions for distributing drugs.  Following Williams’ guilty plea, and after providing notice to the public and the homeowner, the U.S. Government sought and obtained a Final Order of Forfeiture, which vested all right, title, and interest in the house to the U.S. Government. 

Markenzy Lapointe, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Christopher A. Robinson, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), made the announcement. 

The ATF Miami Field Office investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Deric Zacca prosecuted the criminal case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mitchell Evan Hyman and Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily R. Stone handled forfeiture. 

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 23-cr-60008.

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