Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge William F. Jung has sentenced Leon Erick Williams (41, St. Petersburg) to 6 years and 9 months in federal prison for distributing cocaine. Williams had pleaded guilty on October 11, 2022.
According to court documents, Williams previously served a 12-year federal prison sentence for his involvement in a multi-kilogram cocaine distribution conspiracy in Hillsborough County. In February 2022, while on federal supervised release for that offense, Williams sold cocaine to undercover police officers at an adult entertainment club in Pinellas Park. Williams then coordinated another cocaine deal with the undercover officers via text message. A few days later, Williams sold the undercover officers more cocaine in the club’s restroom. Unbeknownst to the undercover officers, Williams had been arrested on unrelated drug charges on the night of February 9, 2022. He was released on bond from the Pinellas County Jail on February 10, 2022, and returned to the club later that day to sell more cocaine.
This case was investigated by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David W.A. Chee.