Kingsmen Member Pleads Guilty To RICO Conspiracy

BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Jason Williams, 44, of Kenmore, NY, pleaded guilty to RICO conspiracy before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a fine of $250,000.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph M. Tripi and Brendan T. Cullinane, who are handling the case, stated that the defendant, a/k/a Toop, was a member of the North Tonawanda Chapter and the West Side of Buffalo Chapter of the Kingsmen Motorcycle Club (KMC) between 2009 and 2016. Williams served in various capacities, including as the Vice President of the North Tonawanda Chapter.

KMC members and associates used marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, and other controlled substances at the North Tonawanda and West Side of Buffalo KMC Chapter Clubhouses. At times, Williams obtained and supplied quantities of marijuana and cocaine to KMC members, and used and distributed cocaine and marijuana. The defendant used telephones and Facebook messaging to arrange drug transactions. KMC members also possessed, maintained, and sold firearms.

Williams is one of 20 KMC members and associates charged in this case. To date, 15 have been convicted, including National President David Pirk, who was recently convicted following a four month jury trial. Charges remain pending against five other defendants. The fact that the defendants have been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The plea is the culmination of an investigation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Gary Loeffert. Assisting in the investigation: the FBI Knoxville, TN, and Jacksonville, FL Field Offices; Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations; the Erie County Sheriff’s Office; the Buffalo Police Department; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the New York State Police; the Olean Police Department; the Lancaster Police Department; the Amherst Police Department; the City of North Tonawanda Police Department; the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority Police; the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Department; and the Hamburg Police Department.   

Sentencing is scheduled for October 24, 2018 at 4:00 p.m. before Judge Wolford.