James Ricardo Williams, a/k/a Snipe, 28, of District Heights, Maryland, is headed to federal prison for eight years after being convicted of running a violent drug operation dealing crack cocaine and PCP in Prince George’s County. U.S. District Judge Roger W. Titus handed down the sentence today, followed by four years of supervised release, marking the end of a high-stakes investigation into one of the county’s most active street-level trafficking rings.
Williams’ brother, Ricky Lee Williams, a/k/a Slick, Pullaman, and Stacy, 27, of Forestville, Maryland, has already pleaded guilty to the same drug conspiracy and to the separate felony of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. The brothers operated near the intersection of Walters Lane and Hil Mar Drive in Forestville from September 2015 to June 2016, flooding the neighborhood with narcotics while arming themselves against rivals and law enforcement.
The case exploded open thanks to a joint operation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Prince George’s County Police Department. Agents used wiretaps, surveillance, and a confidential source who directly bought a loaded .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol from Ricky Williams—despite his prior felony record banning him from owning guns.
Searches of James Williams’ home, an associate’s apartment, and vehicles tied to the operation turned up crack cocaine, PCP, $1,400 in cash, and a full arsenal of drug packaging tools. Evidence also included recorded phone calls, eyewitness accounts, and transaction logs proving the scale and coordination of the conspiracy. The operation was not a corner hustle—it was an organized criminal enterprise.
Under a binding plea agreement, Ricky Williams and prosecutors have agreed on an 87-month sentence, pending judicial approval. His formal sentencing is set for May 11, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. before Judge Titus. Federal authorities made no promises about leniency, signaling a hard line against armed drug traffickers operating in suburban corridors once considered insulated from inner-city violence.
U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein credited ATF, DEA, and Prince George’s County Police for dismantling the network, and extended thanks to the Metropolitan Police Department, Maryland National Capital Park Police, and U.S. Marshals Service for support. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael T. Packard and Thomas M. Sullivan are prosecuting the case as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force initiative, proving that federal heat still burns hot on local dope peddlers with guns.
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Key Facts
- State: Maryland
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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