Port Arthur Man Jailed in Synthetic Weed Ring

BEAUMONT, Texas – Michael Williams, a 46-year-old Port Arthur native, has been locked away for 60 months following his conviction on charges of conspiracy to distribute synthetic marijuana. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas announced the sentencing on January 27, 2015.

Williams, who pleaded guilty on July 9, 2014, admitted to conspiring with others to receive and distribute the illegal substance from suppliers in Syracuse, New York, to customers in the Port Arthur area. His operation was quite lucrative, with reports indicating he sold packages of synthetic weed for between $8 and $10 each.

The court records detail a vast network of distribution. Williams is said to have received shipments labeled with brand names such as ‘Caution’ and ‘Masterkush’ from Syracuse, New York, and then sold them on credit at approximately $4.50 per package.

Law enforcement’s investigation took a significant turn in November 2013 when they executed a search warrant at Williams’ residence and vehicle. They uncovered a trove of evidence linking the defendant to the drug trafficking organization based out of Syracuse, including communications devices, cash, and deposit slips.

Williams was indicted by a federal grand jury in Beaumont in May 2014, alongside several others who were charged as part of the larger drug trafficking organization. Ali Bedwan, Joe Aref, and Arafat Khdour were all tied to this syndicate. Bedwan has since pleaded guilty and received his own sentence of 46 months.

This case was a collaborative effort between the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Port Arthur Police Department, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert L. Rawls handling the prosecution.