Ashtabula man indicted on drug and firearms charges

An Ashtabula man was charged in federal court with drug trafficking and firearms crimes, said Acting U.S. Attorney David A. Sierleja and FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony.

George R. Williams, 35, was indicted on one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin, methamphetamine and crack cocaine; possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and of being a felon in possession of a firearms and ammunition.

Williams possessed heroin, methamphetamine and crack cocaine on Jan. 5 with the intent to distribute the drugs. On the same date, he possessed firearms in furtherance of the drug trafficking crime, according to the indictment

Williams possessed a Springfield, model XD40, .40 caliber pistol, a Lorcin, model L25, .25 caliber pistol, and ammunition on Jan. 5, after having been convicted in 2012 of heroin trafficking in the Ashtabula County Court of Common Pleas.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violations. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Ashtabula Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.