In a decisive move against large-scale drug trafficking, Racoco Williams, a 43-year-old Jamaican national, has been sentenced to life imprisonment by Senior United States District Judge Joy Flowers Conti. Williams’s conviction on six counts, including violations of the federal “Kingpin” statute for leading a continuing criminal enterprise, marks a significant victory in the fight against drug trafficking.
The sentence, delivered on August 6, 2024, follows a three-week trial in September 2023, where a Pittsburgh jury found Williams guilty of multiple offenses, including cocaine trafficking, racketeering, and money laundering. Williams was the leader of an extensive drug trafficking organization that distributed over 150 kilograms of cocaine from 2012 to 2018. His operation spanned multiple cities, including Phoenix, Charlotte, Atlanta, New York City, and Pittsburgh.
Williams’s method of operation was both sophisticated and ruthless. He sourced cocaine near the Southwest border and transported it to the East Coast using various means. Notably, he exploited young women, including a 16-year-old, as couriers, directing them to travel with drugs and cash hidden in luggage. Williams maintained control over his couriers through threats of violence, including one instance where he threatened to kill a courier and her entire family if she cooperated with law enforcement.
“Racoco Williams orchestrated a years-long, cross-country drug trafficking and money laundering organization that distributed hundreds of kilograms of cocaine in various cities throughout the country,” stated U.S. Attorney Eric G. Olshan. “Williams stayed behind the scenes, using couriers to transport bulk cocaine and cash to fuel his enterprise, and he maintained obedience through threats of violence. This prosecution makes clear yet again that our office and our law enforcement partners are dedicated to identifying the most dangerous offenders and holding them accountable to the fullest extent of federal law.”
Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI Philadelphia Sara Bay emphasized the importance of this conviction. “This sentence is the culmination of years of investigative and prosecutorial work, diligence, and expertise. As a result of this investigation, special agents and prosecutors were able to dismantle a vicious transnational drug trafficking organization and free the young women who Racoco Williams controlled through threats of violence.”
The trial revealed multiple instances of large drug and cash seizures associated with Williams’s operation. In one 2012 incident, $337,000 in cash was found hidden in suitcases during a search of a house used for drug transactions. Despite prior arrests and convictions, Williams continued his trafficking activities unabated. His relentless pursuit of his illegal operations even continued from behind bars, with attempts to arrange cocaine shipments from Phoenix to Pittsburgh while incarcerated.
