Burke County Sheriff Alfonzo Williams, 55, of Waynesboro, Georgia, was indicted by a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Georgia on July 14 on five counts of extortion under the color of official right and one count of transfer of a firearm to a convicted felon.
The indictment alleges that between August 2021 and April 2022, Williams requested and accepted monetary payments from five individuals in exchange for dismissing pending citations for driving under the influence. It further charges that in January 2023, Williams provided a firearm to an individual previously convicted of a felony.
According to the indictment, “Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.”
Each extortion charge carries a statutory penalty upon conviction of up to 20 years in prison, substantial financial penalties, and up to three years of supervised release after any prison term. The firearms charge carries up to 15 years in prison if convicted, with similar financial penalties and supervised release requirements. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case is being investigated by the FBI and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tara M. Lyons and Timothy P. Dean are prosecuting for the United States.
The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia prosecutes federal crimes and manages civil litigation for the United States while operating under the United States Department of Justice; it employs about 70 attorneys and support staff at its headquarters in Savannah with an additional staffed branch in Augusta. It is recognized as a leading national legal office for successful prosecutions and also promotes community safety through programs such as Project Safe Neighborhoods, according to the official website.