HAYNESVILLE, LA – Dean Fitzgerald Williams, 40, is headed to federal prison for over fifteen years after a raid on his Claiborne Parish home turned up a substantial stash of drugs, two handguns, and a hefty pile of cash. Williams was sentenced to 181 months (15 years, 1 month) by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote, followed by five years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty back in February to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm during drug trafficking.
The bust went down June 24, 2022, when law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at Williams’ residence. Inside, they found a cocktail of illegal substances: methamphetamine, crack cocaine, and over 680 grams of marijuana. A storage room held the initial haul, while the master bedroom yielded another 8.5 gross grams of crack. But the drugs weren’t the only things discovered.
Hidden within Williams’ bedding and under his mattress, officers located a Sig Sauer 1911 “We the People” pistol, .45 Auto caliber, and a Hi-Point C9, .9mm. Beneath the box springs, they found approximately $13,000 in cash, which Williams readily admitted – after being read his Miranda rights – was the direct result of his drug sales. The money and weapons painted a clear picture: Williams wasn’t just a user, he was a dealer operating with a dangerous arsenal.
Lab analysis by the DEA’s Southeast Laboratory in Miami confirmed the quantities: 419.8 grams of pure methamphetamine and 113.0 grams of cocaine base. Williams confessed the drugs were his, and acknowledged using the firearms to facilitate his drug trafficking operation – specifically, possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. That confession sealed his fate.
The investigation was a coordinated effort between the DEA, ATF, Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office, Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Ruston Police Department. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerry Edwards and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tennille M. Gilreath handled the prosecution. This case demonstrates a clear message: bringing illegal drugs into our communities and arming yourself while doing so will lead to serious consequences.
Williams will now have plenty of time to contemplate his choices behind bars. The 181-month sentence sends a strong signal that federal authorities are taking drug trafficking and associated gun crimes in Louisiana seriously. The streets of Haynesville are a little safer, but the fight against the flow of illicit narcotics continues.
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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