Mid-level Drug Trafficker Convicted by a Federal Jury

  A federal jury convicted a mid-level drug trafficker Wednesday for a drug conspiracy and for distributing methamphetamine and heroin.

“Kamau Williams profited from others’ addiction when he distributed methamphetamine and heroin in Tulsa. These deadly drugs have caused too much suffering in communities across Oklahoma,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “This week, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joel-lyn McCormick and David Nasar presented their case to a jury and that jury found Williams guilty on all counts.  I am proud of their advocacy, and I am thankful for the jury’s service.”

Kamau Jahi Williams, 43, of Tulsa, was found guilty of distribution of methamphetamine, drug conspiracy, and distribution of heroin.

In the Summer of 2020, the DEA agents and Task Force Officers with the Tulsa Police Department became aware of Williams’ potential criminal activity and began physical surveillance of the suspect. On Oct. 20, 2020, and as alleged in Count 1 of the indictment, Williams met with another individual in a fast food restaurant parking lot in Tulsa. Williams was observed entering the lot in a black pick-up to meet the other man. Agents watched the man take possession of a white plastic bag from Williams and place it in the rear of his white SUV. Soon after, officers stopped the man for a traffic violation. He consented to a vehicle search and officers located 56 grams of methamphetamine in the rear of the vehicle in the same white bag he was seen receiving from Williams earlier. Fifty-six grams is equal to 24 dosage units and worth thousands of dollars. After the seizure, investigators continued their investigation of Williams.

In April 2021, two codefendants were charged in a superseding indictment with Williams and additional charges were added. Agents intercepted communication between Kamau Williams, Albert Thomas III, and Tanara Ruble involving a conspiracy to distribute heroin. The defendants used code words like “dog food” or “black Nike t-shirt” when discussing drug transactions. Agents learned from the communication that Williams was trafficking marijuana, methamphetamine, and heroin. The heroin conspiracy was alleged in Count 2.

Williams was also charged in Count 3 with distributing heroin based on a March 4, 2021, drug deal. Ruble met with Williams at the Love More Hookah Lounge, a business owned by Williams. The two were observed entering the business and Ruble exited a short time later. Within the next hour, Williams called Thomas who then met him at the hookah lounge. The two men entered the lounge and emerged after several minutes. After leaving, Thomas was again stopped by uniformed officers, and heroin was discovered along with Glock .45 caliber pistol.

In her closing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel-lyn McCormick told the jury they were provided the opportunity to peer into the secret life of a mid-level drug trafficker. These traffickers, she said, rarely keep large amounts of illicit drugs in their possession. Once Williams received the various drugs, she said, he rapidly distributed them in order to avoid detection and turn a quick profit. She further stated that all the evidence, when viewed a whole, pointed to Williams’ guilt.

The jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts.

On July 16, 2021, codefendant Tanara Monique Ruble, 40, of Tulsa, pleaded guilty to the heroin conspiracy. The case against codefendant Albert Thomas III, 39, of Sapulpa, continues in federal court. He remains innocent until proven guilty.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and Tulsa Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel-lyn A. McCormick and David A. Nasar are prosecuting the case.