James “Fly” Williams, a former professional basketball player and streetball legend, was arrested for his role in a $2o million heroin ring in Brooklyn. Williams was one of 18 people arrested in the sting and had his own troubles with drugs while also serving as a mentor for youth in the area.
DNAInfo.com reports:
Williams, 65, who played for the Denver Nuggets in the defunct American Basketball Association, led the crew, including his son, selling millions of heroin packets over the last year in Brownsville, Bushwick, Flatbush and Fort Greene, according to officials.
“What makes his alleged conduct even more unfortunate is that Fly Williams had his own well-documented battles with addiction,” acting Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez said during a press conference.
Williams had mentored young people at the Brownsville Recreation Center while operating the drug ring.
“With his influence on young people to run such a substantial narcotics operation is truly sad and reprehensible,” Gonzalez said.
Along with the elder Williams, Richard “Cristiano” Rivera, Hanziel “Johnny” Martinez Cintron, and Jeffrey “Doobie” Britt were all charged as kingpins and could face as much as 25 years behind bars.
Other arrests are still pending according to reports.
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Photo: Brooklyn DA
