Pubdate: Thu, 12 Jul 2001
Source: Evansville Courier & Press (IN)
Copyright: 2001 The Evansville Courier
Contact:  http://courier.evansville.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/138
Author: Len Wells

ILLINOIS MAN GETS LIFE SENTENCE FOR DRUGS

BENTON, Ill. - A Mount Vernon, Ill., man convicted in U.S. District Court 
of dealing crack cocaine was sentenced to life in prison here Tuesday. 
Earlier this year, a jury found Corey A. Williams guilty of three counts of 
distributing crack cocaine, one count of conspiring to distribute crack and 
one federal weapons charge.

"Sentencing a drug dealer to life in prison sends a strong message to all 
prospective gang members around here - that law enforcement is serious 
about shutting down drug traffickers," said Wayne County State's Attorney 
Kevin Kakac.

Kakac says he works routinely with federal authorities in seeing that major 
drug dealers get major prison time.

"We're willing to let the big boys (the federal government) take a crack at 
those who really need to be prosecuted on a higher level," Kakac said. "It 
really sets a tone for those bent on getting into the drug trade."

Testimony during Williams' trial revealed that starting in 1999 he and 
others began traveling to Missouri to obtain crack cocaine, which he then 
sold in Mount Vernon.

In July 1999, Mount Vernon city police found a loaded .45 caliber pistol 
hidden in a vehicle belonging to Williams, resulting in the federal weapons 
charge.

Also in July 1999, agents began purchasing crack from Williams in a series 
of controlled drug sales. A number of drug customers and previously 
convicted dealer-witnesses testified as government witnesses at Williams' 
trial.

"If certain conditions are met - such as prior drug convictions and a 
course of conduct that resulted in a large quantity of drugs being 
delivered - the judge can have little discretion in fashioning a sentence," 
said David Williams, a Fairfield, Ill., attorney who is a federal criminal 
defense lawyer.

"The judge will look at the defendant's offense level, then at his criminal 
history. If the two are high enough, natural life in prison may be the only 
sentence available."

Court documents revealed that Corey Williams has four felony convictions in 
Illinois.

In 1996, Williams drew a two-year sentence for possession of a controlled 
substance and another three years for possession of narcotics. In 1990, 
Williams drew a 10-year sentence for armed violence and another four years 
for residential burglary.

Under the harshest set of circumstances, a similar defendant prosecuted at 
the state level could have been sentenced up to 60 years in prison.

Except for first-degree murder, Illinois inmates are eligible for day for 
day credit for good behavior. In the case of Williams' federal life 
sentence, there is no provision for good time credit. Natural life in 
prison means just that.
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