TWO FORMER OFFICERS CONVICTED

Men Will Serve Sentences In Federal Prison

Federal court jurors didn't believe all of the prosecution's witnesses, but
they believed enough to subject two former Richmond County sheriff's
officers to long prison terms. After five hours of deliberations Monday,
the jury's split verdict was announced in a courtroom cleared of
spectators. Ralph Tyrone Williams, 36, was convicted of conspiracy and
extortion, and Joseph Ellick, 34, was convicted of attempt to possess cocaine.

"This is a case about dirty cops," Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee Little told
the jury in her closing argument. Mr. Williams and Mr. Ellick had a duty to
protect and serve the community; instead they used their badges and guns to
serve themselves, she said. "They were traitors to their badges," she said.

Mr. Williams' attorney, Pete Theodocion, and Mr. Ellick's attorney, Michael
Bloom, argued to the jury Monday that the governor's witnesses were
convicted felons, desperate drug dealers whose only chance to see the
outside of prison cells was to sell allegations against the officers.

"Lying isn't second nature for these people," Mr. Theodocion said of the
dealers who testified. "For these people it's first nature."

One self-confessed drug dealer whom it appeared jurors didn't believe was
Ernest Smith, who testified that Mr. Ellick and then Mr. Williams sold him
crack cocaine. The jury also rejected Mr. Smith's testimony that Mr.
Williams talked of joining a plot to rob a Columbia drug dealer.

Although tape recordings of Mr. Williams and Mr. Smith were barely audible,
the jury heard 10 conversations between Mr. Ellick and Mr. Smith. The
subject of those discussions about the Columbia dealer led to Mr. Ellick's
only conviction.

"The bad thing is, what if he don't run?" Ms. Little quoted Mr. Ellick as
saying at one point in the recordings. Why, she asked, if Mr. Ellick's
intent was to arrest the dealer, why was he worried the man would submit to
an arrest?

Mr. Ellick, who was a member of the sheriff's crime suppression team,
testified that he was only going along with Mr. Smith's talk of robbing the
Columbia dealer so that he could arrest the man..

Mr. Williams was acquitted of the charges rising from Mr. Smith's
information, and of one extortion charge, but the jury found him guilty of
two charges based on the testimony of a childhood friend, Joe Nathan Green.

Mr. Green's testimony was corroborated, Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Michael
Faulkner argued to the jury. Mr. Green testified that Mr. Williams, a
member of the sheriff's narcotics squad, threw Mr. Green a party when he
was released from prison and then brought him drugs to help Mr. Green
re-establish himself as a dealer.

Mr. Williams continued to help his old friend, providing tips on informants
for Mr. Green, and once arranging the arrest of a drug dealer lured to
Augusta with 13 ounces of cocaine, Mr. Green testified. Mr. Green walked
away with the drugs, sold them and split the profits with Mr. Williams, Mr.
Green testified.

Late Monday night after the verdict was announced, U.S. District Court
Chief Judge Dudley H. Bowen Jr. ordered Mr. Williams and Mr. Ellick into
custody. Both had been free on bond since their February indictment.

Mr. Williams faces a minimum sentence of 10 years and as much as life in
prison. Mr. Ellick faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. All
federal prison sentences are served without the possibility of parole.

Sentencing dates have not been scheduled.

"That's what I'm really worried about," Mr. Theodocion said of Mr.
Williams' sentencing.

Mr. Bloom said Mr. Ellick stands an excellent chance at appeal. What
happens with a seventh charge against Mr. Ellick is up to the prosecutors,
Mr. Bloom said.

The prosecutors, and Agents Patrick Clayton of the Drug Enforcement
Administration and John Parrish of the FBI, referred all questions to their
respective offices.

The Verdicts

The U.S. District Court jury's verdicts for Ralph Tyrone Williams and
Joseph Ellick:

COUNT 1: WILLIAMS - ACQUITTED; ELLICK - ACQUITTED Conspiracy to possess
with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of crack cocaine

COUNT 2: WILLIAMS - GUILTY Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute
more than 50 grams of crack cocaine

COUNT 3: WILLIAMS - ACQUITTED Attempt to possess cocaine with intent to
distribute

COUNT 4: ELLICK - GUILTY Attempt to possess cocaine with intent to distribute

COUNT 5: WILLIAMS - ACQUITTED Conspiracy to interfere with commerce by
extortion

COUNT 6: WILLIAMS - GUILTY Conspiracy to interfere with commerce by extortion

COUNT 7: ELLICK - PENDING Misprision of a felony