Lavon Williams, Marijuana Conspiracy, North Carolina 2023

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Lavon Williams, 38, of Jamaica, New York, will spend the next 24 years of his life behind bars. Chief U.S. District Judge Frank D. Whitney handed down the 292-month sentence today for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute marijuana, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The sentence also includes eight years of supervised release and a hefty $1.5 million judgment for the value of the marijuana involved in the scheme.

The bust, a joint operation spearheaded by U.S. Attorney Jill Westmoreland Rose, ICE/Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Nick Annan, and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) Chief Kerr Putney, reveals a sophisticated drug pipeline stretching from the West Coast to the Queen City. From October 2014 to February 2015, Williams acted as a key transporter, repeatedly flying between San Francisco and Charlotte, stuffing commercial aircraft holds with illegal narcotics.

Court documents paint a picture of brazen disregard for the law. Williams made at least 11 trips, each time allegedly carrying around 40 pounds of marijuana. The total haul? Over 880 pounds of weed moved across state lines. The operation began to unravel on February 4, 2015, when Williams’ co-conspirator, Thajuan Brown, was caught red-handed at Charlotte Douglas International Airport with 46 pounds of the illicit substance. That arrest provided the link needed to connect Williams to the larger conspiracy.

Just six days later, on February 10, 2015, law enforcement caught up with Williams himself – not with drugs, but with $40,000 in cash at the San Francisco airport, allegedly the profits from the drug sales. The money, authorities say, was directly tied to the marijuana trafficking operation. While Williams is now facing the consequences, the investigation isn’t closed. Two more individuals remain on the run.

Pierre Buissereth, 35, of New York, and Toccara Quantavia King, 35, of Virginia, are currently fugitives wanted by law enforcement. HSI is asking anyone with information regarding their whereabouts to contact them at 704-679-6140. Their capture is crucial to fully dismantling this operation and bringing all involved to justice.

This case was prosecuted as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a federal initiative designed to cripple major drug trafficking organizations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven R. Kaufman led the investigation and prosecution, showcasing the coordinated effort between federal, state, and local agencies to combat the flow of illegal drugs and illicit funds. The investigation was primarily led by HSI and CMPD, demonstrating the power of collaborative law enforcement.