DEALER ALLEGES CORRUPTION

More allegations of police corruption became public Wednesday, this time
from a convicted drug dealer whose probation sentence last fall stirred
controversy. A judge in U.S. District Court had to determine whether
Augusta lawyer Jacque Hawk would continue to represent former narcotics
officer Ralph Tyrone Williams and drug dealer Rodricgus F. Maxwell.

Assistant U.S. Attorney John Garcia said it wasn't until last month, when
Mr. Maxwell pleaded guilty and agreed to talk to federal investigators,
that it was learned Mr. Maxwell had incriminating information about Mr.
Williams and Joseph Ellick, a former Richmond County sheriff's deputy
indicted with Mr. Williams.

"This is an awkward position for me, and one I didn't expect," Mr. Hawk
told U.S. Magistrate Judge G.R. Smith.

Mr. Garcia said Mr. Maxwell probably will be a prosecution witness against
Mr. Williams and Mr. Ellick, and he outlined the allegations:

a.. Mr. Maxwell told investigators that Mr. Williams once visited a hotel
room where he was staying and said he found crack cocaine inside. Instead
of arresting him, Mr. Maxwell said, Mr. Williams took about $900 in cash
and a .32-caliber handgun from him.

a.. On two occasions Mr. Maxwell was supposed to help narcotics agents, but
Mr. Williams warned other dealers to stay away from Mr. Maxwell, he said.
On another occasion, Mr. Maxwell said he heard Mr. Williams warn a man
about a pending arrest.

a.. Mr. Maxwell told investigators that he agreed to pay Mr. Ellick $3,500
to give perjured testimony that could have led to the suppression of
evidence in a May 12, 2000, arrest. Mr. Maxwell, who was sentenced to 20
years' probation in that case in the fall, pleaded guilty in U.S. District
Court in April to a new charge and is awaiting sentencing. He was arrested
in March and charged with selling cocaine.

Judge Smith determined that it would be best to replace Mr. Hawk on Mr.
Williams' case and have him continue to represent Mr. Maxwell.