INVESTIGATOR FACES DRUG CHARGES

Narcotics Officer Is Accused Of Selling Cocaine

Veteran narcotics officer Ralph Tyrone Williams entered a courtroom in
handcuffs Tuesday afternoon to face arraignment on drug trafficking charges.

Investigator Ralph Tyrone Williams was indicted on drug charges. SPECIAL
Investigator Williams, 36, pleaded innocent in U.S. District Court to the
charges, which carry a minimum 10-year prison sentence. Also named in the
indictment issued Monday by a federal grand jury in Savannah is Joseph
Ellick, 34, a former member of the sheriff's office's crime suppression unit.

"Mr. Williams, I know this is a lot to digest, but do you understand these
charges?" U.S. Magistrate Judge W. Leon Barfield asked the investigator as
he concluded a summary of the charges he faces.

"Yes, sir," Investigator Williams responded.

The indictment accuses Investigator Williams and Mr. Ellick of conspiring
from 1997 through August 2000 to possess and distribute more than 50 grams
of crack cocaine.

"There are bad apples in every bunch. We will weed them out as soon as we
know of anything," Richmond County Sheriff Ronnie Strength said at a news
conference Tuesday. "Realistically, these things do happen, especially with
agencies as large as ours.

"They (the public) know that 99.9 percent of these officers are honest,
dedicated, hard-working officers. And the general public, as they were last
time, are going to be very pleased to know that it will not be tolerated
here. And we will police our own, and we have no problem in doing that."

Investigator Williams faces a second drug conspiracy charge of conspiring
with drug dealer Joe Nathan Green, 33. Mr. Green, twice convicted of drug
charges in South Carolina, is facing life sentences on a new federal
conviction. He pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court on Jan. 25.

The indictment against Investigator Williams and Mr. Ellick that was
unsealed Tuesday further accuses both men of setting up drug dealers in
order to steal their drugs.

Investigator Williams is also accused of violating the Hobbs Act by
extorting money from drug dealers. In exchange for payments, he would
provide dealers with information on narcotics investigations, the
indictment alleges.

Three of those named as making payments, including Mr. Green, have been
convicted of drug-trafficking charges in federal court within the past year.

Specific acts named in the indictment include allegations that Investigator
Williams:

Former sheriff's officer Joseph Ellick was indicted on drug charges. SPECIAL

Took money from drug dealer "L.U." in exchange for information on narcotics
investigations

Obtained the name of a confidential informant, whose companion was later
assaulted by a drug dealer

Worked with Mr. Green to set up a South Carolina drug dealer and steal 13
ounces of crack cocaine

Had Mr. Green arrange a meeting at an elementary school with "T.D.," at
which time Investigator Williams showed the man what he said was a federal
search warrant - a document he tore up after T.D. paid Investigator Williams

Asked a Drug Enforcement Administration agent how much an undercover DEA
agent could buy, relayed that information to Mr. Green, and later, on May
15, 2001, met Mr. Green at a city high school to discuss Mr. Green's concerns.

Throughout 2001, FBI agents were taping and watching as Mr. Green made
repeated drug sales of more than 300 grams to a confidential informant,
according to federal court records. In a ruling in December that Mr. Green
could not be released on bond, Judge Barfield noted Mr. Green was a
"high-volume drug dealer."

At Tuesday's arraignment hearing for Investigator Williams, Judge Barfield
discussed the officer's bond.

"I'm not inclined to go along with this recommendation," he said. "I'm not
impressed with a $5,000 bond in this case."

Judge Barfield said he wanted a property bond of $25,000 and insisted
Investigator Williams' mother, who lives with her son, must be at least one
of the parties to pledge her property. Defense attorney Jacque Hawk said
the home has been mortgaged twice but friends were willing to pledge
property as security.

If not secured by property, Investigator Williams must post a $20,000 cash
bond with the court, Judge Barfield said.

When he is released, the judge said, Investigator Williams is not to
contact any witness unless his defense attorney is present; possess a
weapon; use any illegal substance; or drink alcohol to excess.

Judge Barfield ordered that if freed on bond, the officer would be under
electronic monitoring, report to a pretrial probation officer, and report
all contacts with police - even as minor as a traffic stop.

Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Garcia said in court Tuesday that the
government's case file is "voluminous" and includes tape recordings of
about 500 telephone conversations. The federal agents obtained court orders
to operate wire tapes for about six weeks.

FBI agents arrested Mr. Ellick in Florida. Sheriff Strength said Mr. Ellick
worked for Richmond County from 1994 to 2001, resigning "on his own to take
other employment." He was not working in law enforcement in Florida, the
sheriff said.

Mr. Ellick has been living in Deerfield Beach and was taken into custody
Tuesday. He will be granted an arraignment hearing once he is transported
to Georgia, said Ed Reinhold, a FBI supervisory agent.

Agent Reinhold said his agency has worked with the sheriff's office and the
DEA since 1999 when then-Sheriff Charlie Webster contacted them about
allegations against Investigator Williams.

On Tuesday, Sheriff Strength said that Investigator Williams, who was
suspended from duty Jan. 2, was closely monitored while still on the job
and that no narcotics investigations were compromised.

At 6 p.m. Tuesday, Investigator Williams was to be taken to the jail in
Bulloch County, where he is expected to be held until he is able to post bond.

FBI Special Agents John A. Parrish and Anthony C. DePrizio and DEA Special
Agent Patrick Clayton are credited with the 2 1/2 -year investigation,
according to the U.S. Attorney's news release issued Tuesday. Assistant
U.S. Attorneys Mr. Garcia and Lee H. Little will handle the prosecution.

Tuesday's news conference and statements concerned the third sheriff's
officer indicted within the past three months.

On Dec. 13, the sheriff and FBI agents stood in the same conference room
and announced the indictments of vice officers Stoney Turnage and Roderick
Berry, accused of extracting bribes from Atlanta area resident Howard
Thrower, who brought strippers to work at Augusta's Dolls Downtown when
visitors flocked to Augusta for Masters Tournaments.

Charges are still pending in those cases.

Charges

Investigator Ralph Tyrone Williams is accused of:

Two counts of conspiracy to possess crack cocaine for distribution -
punishable by 10 years to life in prison and a fine up to $2 million

One count of attempt to possess cocaine with intent to distribute -
punishable by a maximum 20 years and a fine up to $1 million

Two counts of conspiracy to interfere with commerce - punishable by a
maximum 20 years and a maximum fine of $250,000 Former sheriff's officer
Joseph Ellick is accused of:

Conspiracy to possess crack cocaine for distribution

Attempt to possess cocaine with intent to distribute

Misprision of a felony - punishable by a maximum three-year sentence and
$250,000 fine.