Two brothers who made more than £3.5-milliion from drug dealing in Burton Upon Trent have been ordered to hand over assets worth nearly £1-million.

Brothers Graham and Sylvester Williams, each received sentences of 15 years imprisonment following a six week trial last year when they were found guilty of conspiracy to supply drugs.

At a recent hearing at Stafford Crown Court the pair were again brought before Judge Eades for a financial hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act, following a financial investigation by the Midlands Regional Asset Recovery Team.

Judge Eades said Graham Williams had benefited to the tune of 1,862,219. He was ordered to pay £467,477 within six months or face a further five years imprisonment.

Sylvester Williams had benefited to a total of £1,829,714. He ordered him to pay £448,880 within the same period or face a further five year prison sentence.
 


Graham Williams [left] and Sylvester Williams [right].

Chief Inspector Mick Harrison, Commander of Trent Division said: "These criminals were brought to justice thanks to a first class investigation by officers from Trent Valley Division over a long period and involving considerable police resources.

"The court's latest decision shows the law is determined to hit criminals where it hurts - in their pockets.

"The outcome also underlines that police and the courts are serious about sending out the message that criminals face not only lengthy prison sentences for their crimes, but also risk having their assets seized or a further period behind bars."

At the men's trial last summer, Judge Eades described the conspiracy as "significant and sophisticated" which involved the use of "physical and psychological pressure."

He described the brothers as the "two principles" in the drugs racket.

The court heard that Graham Williams, aged 42, nicknamed "Bigga" and Sylvester Williams, aged 47, known as "Vesta," of Linton Street, Derby, ran a network of drug dealers which brought in "staggering amounts of money."

They used violence and intimidation to peddle heroin and crack cocaine through street dealers, the court heard.

They kept in contact through mobile telephones and made sure drugs were available from 9am until midnight.

The illegal business was finally cracked by a team of detectives based at Burton Police Station who set up Operation Treatment to gather evidence over an 18 month period.

Led by Detective Inspector Darren Harding, the operation involved tracking down street dealers and tracing drug deals involving thousands of pounds in cash which led detectives to Derby and Liverpool.

"This was a complicated, difficult and protracted enquiry mainly because of the level of violence and intimidation threatened by these men," he said.

"Theirs was a serious drugs supply operation which they ran like a business - the big difference being they were prepared to use violence and the threat of violence to get what they wanted."

Detective Inspector Andy Bannister, Head of the Midlands Regional Asset Recovery Team said " This is another example of multi agency co-operation producing an excellent result. We will continue to work alongside the regional Police Forces pursuing the recovery of funds from those involved in crime".