Pubdate: Thu, 23 May 2002
Source: Augusta Chronicle, The (GA)
Copyright: 2002 The Augusta Chronicle
Contact:  http://www.augustachronicle.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/31
Note: Does not publishing letters from outside of the immediate Georgia and 
South Carolina circulation area
Author: Sandy Hodson, Staff Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm (Corruption)

DEALER ALLEGES CORRUPTION

More allegations of police corruption became public Wednesday, this time 
from a convicted drug dealer whose probation sentence last fall stirred 
controversy. A judge in U.S. District Court had to determine whether 
Augusta lawyer Jacque Hawk would continue to represent former narcotics 
officer Ralph Tyrone Williams and drug dealer Rodricgus F. Maxwell.

Assistant U.S. Attorney John Garcia said it wasn't until last month, when 
Mr. Maxwell pleaded guilty and agreed to talk to federal investigators, 
that it was learned Mr. Maxwell had incriminating information about Mr. 
Williams and Joseph Ellick, a former Richmond County sheriff's deputy 
indicted with Mr. Williams.

"This is an awkward position for me, and one I didn't expect," Mr. Hawk 
told U.S. Magistrate Judge G.R. Smith.

Mr. Garcia said Mr. Maxwell probably will be a prosecution witness against 
Mr. Williams and Mr. Ellick, and he outlined the allegations:

a.. Mr. Maxwell told investigators that Mr. Williams once visited a hotel 
room where he was staying and said he found crack cocaine inside. Instead 
of arresting him, Mr. Maxwell said, Mr. Williams took about $900 in cash 
and a .32-caliber handgun from him.

a.. On two occasions Mr. Maxwell was supposed to help narcotics agents, but 
Mr. Williams warned other dealers to stay away from Mr. Maxwell, he said. 
On another occasion, Mr. Maxwell said he heard Mr. Williams warn a man 
about a pending arrest.

a.. Mr. Maxwell told investigators that he agreed to pay Mr. Ellick $3,500 
to give perjured testimony that could have led to the suppression of 
evidence in a May 12, 2000, arrest. Mr. Maxwell, who was sentenced to 20 
years' probation in that case in the fall, pleaded guilty in U.S. District 
Court in April to a new charge and is awaiting sentencing. He was arrested 
in March and charged with selling cocaine.

Judge Smith determined that it would be best to replace Mr. Hawk on Mr. 
Williams' case and have him continue to represent Mr. Maxwell.
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