A Bessemer man convicted under the federal drug “Kingpin” statute has been sentenced to life in prison.
Rolando Antuain Williamson, aka “Baldhead” and “Ball Head,” was found guilty in April..
U.S. District Judge Annmarie C. Axon sentenced Williamson to life in prison plus 120 months for leading a multi-million dollar continuing criminal enterprise; conspiring to distribute or possess with intent to distribute heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana; distributing or possession with intent to distribute heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana; using, carrying, or possessing a firearm during or in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and using a communication facility to commit a drug trafficking crime.
The sentence was announced Thursday in a joint statement by Northern District of Alabama U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona, FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp, Jr., and IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Atlanta Field Office Special Agent in Charge James E. Dorsey.
Axon also sentenced two others convicted in the drug conspiracy. Ishmywel Calid Gregory, 38, of Mulga, was sentenced to 40 years in prison.
Hendarius Lamar Archie, 33, of Bessemer, was sentenced to 14 years in prison.
Gregory and Archie were convicted of conspiring to distribute or possess with intent to distribute heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana. Both Gregory and Archie were also convicted of distributing or possessing with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana.
Additionally, Archie was convicted of using, carrying, or possessing a firearm during or in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
A total of 18 people were charged in the 2019 indictment, which was the result of a three-year investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, also known as OCDETF. The probe focused on the drug-trafficking enterprise based in Western Jefferson County.
Fifteen of the defendants have now been sentenced, and three remaining defendants await sentencing later this month.
The OCDETF agencies involved in this investigation are the FBI, IRS, member agencies of the FBI North Alabama Safe Streets Task Force, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bessemer Police Department.
The North Alabama Safe Streets Task Force arrested Williamson on Aug. 22, 2019, in the parking lot of a grocery store located in Homewood. Williamson was driving a 2016 Dodge Hellcat worth $80,000.
At the time of arrest, Williamson was armed two loaded pistols, additional loaded magazines, and was carrying almost $14,000 in cash. All other members of the conspiracy were arrested on or about November 13, 2019.
From Williamson’s arrest, authorities seized 366 grams of heroin/fentanyl, 109 grams of suspected cocaine, 573 grams of pure methamphetamine, 52 kilos of marijuana, over $97,000 in cash, multiple firearms, and over 1700 rounds of ammunition. The drugs, money and ammo were taken from Williamson and his stash houses.
“As a result of the sustained and extensive investigation by our many law enforcement partners, this drug kingpin will spend the rest of his life in prison,” Escalona said. “It is difficult to imagine the harm to the community caused by this criminal enterprise.”
“With this term of imprisonment, Williamson’s days as an international drug kingpin are over, and it is a decisive blow against the drug trafficking network,’’ Sharp said. “This was a team effort with our law enforcement partners, and I am proud of the work of the FBI’s North Alabama Safe Streets Task Force to bring members of this drug enterprise to justice.”
Forfeiture was obtained for two of Williamson’s high-end vehicles: a $46,000 Ford F-250 King’s Ranch and $37,000 Cadillac Escalade; over $100,000 dollars in cash; $45,000 in jewelry; and all firearms and ammunition used to facilitate the drug trafficking enterprise. Additionally, the United States proved $36,615,000 in gross proceeds against Williamson, and $4,000,700 in gross proceeds against Gregory.
“Great job by the investigators. These criminals were responsible for a major amount of drugs flowing through Jefferson County. These convictions are huge in our fight against illegal drugs,” Jefferson County Sheriff Mark Pettway said.
Bessemer Police Chief Mike Roper thanked all of the law enforcement agencies that have worked on the massive investigation.
“This is an example of what can be accomplished when agencies work together,’’ Roper said. “It is our hope that these convictions will send a strong message to others that are committing or thinking about committing like crimes in Bessemer and surrounding areas.”
