Tampa, Florida - U.S. District Judge William F. Jung has sentenced William Beach (40, Tampa) to eight years and three months in federal prison for tampering with a federal witness.
Beach was found guilty following a jury trial on Dec. 17, 2018.
According to court documents and trial testimony, Beach threatened to shoot a key federal witness in a case (United States v. Corey Damond Smith, Jr., involving a death caused by a fentanyl overdose), if that witness continued to cooperate with the investigation and prosecution of the defendant. Law enforcement immediately intervened to protect the safety of the federal witness.
This case was investigated by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas N. Palermo. It is part of the Middle District of Florida’s anti-opioid strategy to combat opioid trafficking and abuse.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
