Cock-fighter receives hefty sentence for local drug trafficking

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 33-year-old man has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 34 kilograms of meth, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Jeffrey Justice Dale Williams, Gray Court, South Carolina, pleaded guilty Jan. 5.

Today, US. District Judge Drew B. Tipton ordered Williams to serve 156 months in prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional testimony that detailed how Williams recruited other individuals to transport a large quantity of meth from Texas to Georgia. In handing down the sentence, the court noted that this drug trafficking venture would not have happened if not for Williams’ involvement.

The investigation revealed Williams recruited Doug Allen Navy and Noah Michael Hiler in the narcotics scheme. They were to pick up meth in McAllen and transport it to Atlanta, Georgia, for distribution.

Authorities discovered the co-conspirators referred to bundles of meth as roosters because Williams participated in cock-fighting in South Carolina. At the time of his arrest, law enforcement discovered hundreds of brutalized animals and evidence of cock-fighting at his property.

On Jan. 25, 2020, law enforcement arrested Navy and Hiler at the Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint near Falfurrias. A search of the vehicle revealed 12 bundles of meth hidden in speaker boxes located inside of Navy’s vehicle.  

Navy and Hiler also pleaded guilty for their roles in the scheme. They later received 96 and 70 month sentences, respectfully.

Williams will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Laurens County, South Carolina, Sherriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Molly K. Smith prosecuted the case.