City employee charged with drug conspiracy

Nov. 20– Federal, state and local authorities raided a Savannah residence and arrested a city employee suspected of selling marijuana from his work truck.

Stacey Williams, 39, of 140 Alabama St., is in federal custody in Memphis, charged with conspiracy to possess marijuana with intent to distribute, according to Gabriel Bewley, a supervisor at the Memphis office of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.

No marijuana was found in Thursday’s search of Williams’ home, officials said, but under federal law, attempting or conspiring carries the same penalties.

"I’m very pleased with the outcome," said Savannah Police Chief Donald Derr. "We have had reports of Stacey selling out of a city vehicle."

He said the investigation is a joint operation of the DEA and Savannah Police Department, and that the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation  participated. A total of 18 officers and agents were involved in the operation.

Traffic was blocked for several hours on a section of Alabama Street while the search warrant was executed.

Williams was on the job at the time, the chief said. He was in his Savannah Utility Department vehicle on Cumberland Street and taken into custody by a city officer without incident.

Derr said 23 firearms were seized, including a weapon reported stolen out of McNairy County. A new Nissan Maxima, two 1993 Nissan Maximas and $500 in cash were also seized.

Bewley said the four-month-old investigation is ongoing and that Williams has been "obtaining drugs from other sources of supply out of Memphis."

He said also that Williams is suspected of dealing in Oxycontin, sometimes called hillbilly heroin.

Hundreds of pills and multiple pounds of marijuana have been sold, he said.

Bewley would not confirm today if other arrests have been made in the case. A source close to the investigation previously said there have been other arrests and more are expected.