AUGUSTA — Methamphetamine trafficking in Waterville will cost a Connecticut man six years in prison.

Ronald Brandon Williams, 24, of Bridgeport, Connecticut, also forfeited his interest in $31,970 seized on Jan. 28 when police searched an apartment building known as The Beehive at the corner of Elm Street and Western Avenue in Waterville.

Judge Tom Nale, who presided at the sentencing hearing Thursday in the Capital Judicial Center, imposed the six-year sentence that was recommended by the prosecutor, Assistant District Attorney Francis Griffin, and Williams’ attorney, Lisa Whittier.

Williams also was fined $400, despite Whittier’s argument that Williams wouldn’t be able to pay the fine now or anytime soon. The judge made it due in six years.

Williams had pleaded guilty on July 7 to one count of aggravated trafficking in methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a school or safe zone. In exchange for the plea, a second count of aggravated trafficking in heroin and a count of conspiracy to commit trafficking in drugs were dismissed.

Public records in Connecticut show Williams was charged in December 2012 with possession with intent to sell drugs and was sentenced in October 2013 to seven years in jail, all suspended except for an initial 32 months, and three years of probation. He later violated that probation and served additional time behind bars, according to records in New London District Court.

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Williams was one of three people charged in January after Waterville police set up surveillance after receiving reports of multiple comings and goings from the multi-unit Waterville apartment building at 24 Elm St.

At the May sentencing of Dasheene Bowman, Williams’ mother and one of his co-defendants, Griffin said police then used a confidential informant to make hand-to-hand drug buys at the apartment.

However, before authorities could execute a search warrant, police were called to the apartment for a possible drug overdose 11 p.m. Jan. 27. Police reported finding the cash and drug paraphernalia, including scales and packaging equipment, but no drugs.

Someone at the apartment — whom authorities didn’t identify — was treated and released from the hospital after the overdose report.

Williams acknowledged to Nale on Thursday that the sentence was what he had expected and was in his best interest.

Bowman, now 42, also forfeited her interest in the money. Bowman, who had rented the apartment where the drugs were being sold, was sentenced to serve an initial six months in jail, with the remainder of the four-year sentence suspended, and two years of probation. She too was fined $400.

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Jose Miguel Diaz, 25, of Augusta, the third person arrested at the Waterville apartment, was sentenced in May to a year in prison after being convicted of the criminal conspiracy charge. Two counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs were dismissed.

Betty Adams — 621-5631

badams@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @betadams


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