Brooklyn gang leader convicted of plotting murder and running violent drug ring

January 25, 2018 By Paul Frangipane Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Ronald Williams was convicted of murder for hire conspiracy and other violent and drug-related charges at Brooklyn’s federal court. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Attorney’s Office EDNY

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A Brooklyn gang leader was convicted of murder-for-hire conspiracy and drug-dealing charges at Brooklyn’s federal court on Wednesday after he plotted the murder of a suspected federal informant and ran a drug ring throughout New York.

After less than a day of deliberations, a jury found Ronald Williams, 43, guilty of accepting $5,000 from a partner to kill the suspected informant on April 30, 2013.

With two prior convictions, the “90s Crew” gang member faces a mandatory life sentence for the plot and for dealing hundreds of pounds of marijuana.

Williams’ troubles began when federal agents started investigating the gang and tapped his phone as well as physically surveilled his East Flatbush home.

When his partner, Leon Campbell made a drug deal a block from Williams’ home on April 26, 2013, he was followed by the feds until he lost them driving. He quickly phoned Williams and proposed murdering the believed informant, four days later.

Prosecutors told jurors at closing arguments that Williams sprang to action and immediately began planning the kill, calling a hitman and requesting more money, but the murder was not carried out.

Williams was eventually arrested and federal agents found three guns, ammunition, a safe, a police scanner, a ledger for drug pricing and several pounds of marijuana in his East 96th Street home.

“Ronald Williams, a violent gang leader and marijuana trafficker, showed his utter disregard for human life when he accepted without hesitation a $5,000 contract to kill someone suspected of being an informant for federal law enforcement,” said U.S. Attorney Richard Donoghue in a statement.

Williams’ attorney, Susan Kellman argued that nothing happened besides some marijuana trafficking. Just because Williams said he was going to organize the kill, Kellman said, didn’t mean he was going to carry it out.

Campbell is currently awaiting trial while Williams will be sentenced on an unscheduled date by Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall.