Willingboro Man Pleads Guilty to Distribution of Crack Cocaine and Illegal Possession of a Handgun

CAMDEN, NJ—A Willingboro man pleaded guilty today to crack cocaine distribution and gun charges, Acting U.S. Attorney Ralph J. Marra announced.

Eric Williams, 25, a.k.a. “Eric Bryant,” pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Noel L. Hillman to a two-count Information that charges him with distribution and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and illegal possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon. Judge Hillman continued the defendant’s detention and scheduled sentencing for Oct. 9.

Williams was arrested on Feb. 25, 2009, by Special Agents with the FBI and ATF, along with Investigators with the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office, on a federal criminal Complaint. The next day, on Feb. 26, Williams made his initial appearance in federal court, before U.S. Magistrate Ann Marie Donio. At that hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Smith, in arguing for the defendant’s detention, told the court that Williams allegedly is a member of a violent Burlington County street gang known as “Muslims Over Everything” or “MOE.”

At his plea hearing, Williams admitted that on three separate occasions in May and June 2008 he sold quantities of crack cocaine to an individual, who he later learned was a confidential source (“CS”) assisting law enforcement authorities. Williams admitted that on May 22, 2008, he met the CS a parking lot next to Unity Hustlers in Willingboro and sold the CS approximately 50 grams of crack cocaine for $1,400.

Williams admitted that on June 3, 2008, he again met the CS at the same location and sold the CS approximately 100 grams of crack cocaine for $3,000. Williams admitted that again on June 18, 2008, he sold the CS approximately 70 grams of crack cocaine in exchange for $2,240.

Furthermore, Williams admitted that at the time of his arrest he was in possession of a Rossi .357 caliber Magnum revolver that was loaded with six live hollow point rounds.

The charge of distribution and possession with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of crack cocaine carries a mandatory minimum prison term of 5 years and maximum statutory sentence of 40 years, and a fine of up to $2 million. The charge of possession of a firearm by a felon carries a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

In determining the actual sentence, Judge Hillman will consult the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide appropriate sentencing ranges that take into account the severity and characteristics of the offense, the defendant's criminal history, if any, and other factors. The judge, however, is not bound by those guidelines in determining a sentence.

Parole has been abolished in the federal system. Defendants who are given custodial terms must serve nearly all that time.

Marra credited Special Agents with the FBI’s Trenton Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Weysan Dun in Newark; ATF, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Matthew W. Horace in Newark; and Investigators with the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Robert D. Bernardi, with the investigation leading to the criminal complaint.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason M. Richardson and Kevin Smith of the Criminal Division in Camden.

Defense Attorney: Harold Shapiro, Esq. Vineland