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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
Oct. 21, 2009
TOPEKA MAN SHOT WHILE TRYING TO ROB AGENT PLEADS GUILTY TO DRUG AND FIREARMS CHARGES
TOPEKA, KAN. – Antoine Cardin Williams, 28, Topeka, Kan., has pleaded guilty to federal charges in connection with a March 2009 incident in which he was shot while trying to rob a federal agent, U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch said today.
Williams pleaded guilty to one count of distributing crack cocaine, one count of aggravated robbery of a federal agent, one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, one count of aggravated assault on a federal agent, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction.
In his plea, Williams admitted that on March 26, 2009, he and co-defendant Phillip Tyrone Williams, 34, Topeka, Kan., went to a motel in the 1200 block of S.W.Wanamaker in Topeka where they planned to sell crack cocaine and a .38-caliber derringer. They did not know that the buyer was in fact an agent of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives who was working undercover.
During the transaction, Antoine Cardin Williams drew a weapon and held the agent at gunpoint while Phillip Tyrone Williams searched the agent and took the agent’s government-owned SIG 229 duty weapon. When federal agents entered the motel room to assist the agent who was held at gunpoint, Antoine Cardin Williams pointed his weapon at one of the ATF agents. That agent shot Antoine Cardin Williams.
Antoine Cardin Williams is scheduled for sentencing Jan. 18, 2010. Phillip Tyrone Williams, is scheduled for jury trial Nov. 24, 2009.
Antoine Cardin Williams faces the following penalties:
Distributing crack cocaine: A maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $1 million.
Aggravated robbery of a federal agent: A maximum penalty of 15 years and a fine up to $250,000.
Brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence: Not less than 7 years and not more than life and a fine up to $250,000 on each count.
Unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction. A maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $250,000.
Welch commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy Hendershot for their work on the case.
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