Mexican cartel members invited Alabama drug kingpin Rolando Antuain Williamson to cross the border and solidify their business relationship with a 2019 motorcycle trip. But Williamson worried the trip could be a trap.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ―
The Courier Journal reviewed court records and interviewed police, prosecutors and lead FBI Special Agent Wayne Gerhardt, who has since retired, to learn about Williamson's rise to power and the betrayal that imploded his drug ring. Prosecutors secured a rare"kingpin" designation for Williamson, meaning he directed an expensive drug trafficking network that moved a high volume of drugs throughout Birmingham, especially on the west side. It also meant that if he was convicted, he faced an automatic life sentence in federal prison, where parole isn't an option.
Williamson grew up in Bessemer, a modest suburb southwest of Birmingham with less than 32,000 residents, but had the hustle and savvy to lead the drug network blamed for supplying Birmingham's west side for years. FBI agents got approval for wire taps, listening for months as Williams discussed drug deals with associates.
None of his partners in crime were waiting on the ground to scoop up the loot, so when a city bus driver beginning his morning shift spotted the cash, he rushed to grab what he could. Within minutes, FBI agents hurried over to get what was left and bag it as evidence. In total, Williams and a dozen others were convicted on federal drug charges, including three drug associates who initially pleaded not guilty and wanted to take their chance at trial. A jury was in place in 2014 when everything changed. Jurors were sent to the jury room so the prosecutors could bring Williams before the judge to authenticate the FBI wire tapes, admitting that he was one of the voices on the recordings.
That left the ambitious Rolando Williamson, who decided to grab that top spot for himself. In time, he grew the drug network to an even larger organization and established close ties to Mexican suppliers. Williamson told the drug courier to deal directly with him and to avoid contact with his cousin, who used to be his right-hand man. Williamson said he no longer trusted the relative after learning that his cousin was talking about having him followed. Williamson said he wanted to retaliate, but couldn't because of the family link."If you got folks from 280, that's all they wanna do, buy dope," Williamson told the drug courier, referring to customers near the U.S.
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