KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On June 22, 2022, Stacey Edward Williams, Jr., 42, currently of Sevierville, Tennessee and formerly of Detroit, Michigan, was sentenced to life in prison by the Honorable Katherine A. Crytzer, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee.
In November 2021, following a four-day trial, a federal jury convicted Williams of eight separate counts, including a conspiracy to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and acetyl fentanyl, multiple counts of possession and distribution of heroin, fentanyl, and acetyl fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 846, 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C), the distribution of fentanyl and acetyl fentanyl resulting in death, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C), and the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g). Williams was also ordered to serve six years on supervised release, in the event he is released from prison notwithstanding his life sentence. Additionally, he was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $5,890.10 to the family of the victim for funeral and related expenses.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Williams sold heroin, fentanyl, and acetyl fentanyl to confidential informants on several occasions in 2018. The evidence further showed that Williams distributed drugs to a Kodak, Tennessee resident, which resulted in his death on Thanksgiving morning, November 22, 2018. Finally, the evidence showed that on March 27, 2019, agents seized quantities of heroin, fentanyl, and acetyl fentanyl, a firearm and ammunition, and over $10,000 in cash from Williams.
United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III and Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Jerry C. Templet Jr. made the announcement.
Law enforcement agencies participating in the joint investigation which led to the indictment and subsequent conviction of Williams include the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office (“SCSO”) and Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) with the participation and assistance of the Sevier County Street Crimes Unit, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Marshal’s Service.
Assistant United States Attorneys Brent N. Jones and Anne-Marie Svolto represented the United States at trial.
This case was prosecuted as part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (SOS), a Department of Justice program that seeks to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas and to identify wholesale distribution networks and international and domestic suppliers.
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