September 11, 2007  Bozeman, Montana
Subject that was distributing cocaine in Montana arrested in California

A Fairfield man was arrested in Sacramento Tuesday for conspiring to distribute and distributing cocaine in Bozeman, Mont., the Solano County Sheriff's Office and the FBI reported Wednesday. He was wanted in Montana for federal charges of cocaine distribution and conspiracy. The arrest coincided with the debut of the Solano County/FBI Violent Gang Safe Streets Task Force.

Demetrius Alex Williams, 24, was arrested in the 2200 block of Gateway Oaks Drive. He was to be arraigned on the two felony drug counts Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Sacramento, FBI spokesman Steven Dupre said. Williams is being held in the Sacramento County jail.

Williams is alleged to have fronted or sold approximately 11.7 kilograms of cocaine with a street value of $936,000 in the Bozeman area between June 2005 and May 11, 2007, according to the complaint. Williams' organization also trafficked cocaine in Missoula, Billings, Helena and Kalispell and his clientele included students at Montana State University and high school age students in the Bozeman area, according to an affidavit contained in the complaint. The cocaine was sold to distributors for $1,100 an ounce, the complaint states. Williams (aka D) was a former Montana State football star.

The affidavit states Williams received the cocaine in California from his supplier by mail. The cocaine was placed inside a hollowed-out can or tub of peanut butter that masked the smell from drug sniffing dogs, the affidavit states.

Williams received kilograms or pounds of cocaine via Federal Express at least once a week, according to the affidavit. He also drove to Fairfield and returned to Montana with the cocaine, according to the complaint that was filed in U.S. District Court in Butte, Mont. Williams initially played football at Contra Costa Community College, where he met Richard and Randy Gatewood, brothers from Richmond. Williams and Richard Gatewood transferred to Montana State University to play football, and Randy followed his brother there, according to court documents.

Investigators allege Williams was the No. 2 man in a Fairfield gang known for selling drugs and guns. Once he finished playing football, Williams convinced Richard Gatewood to start lending him scholarship money to buy drugs from his California home. The drugs were mailed to Williams stuffed into peanut butter jars to avoid detection of drug sniffing dogs, officials said.

Richard Gatewood, who led Montana State in receptions in 2004 and '05, allegedly attended an Oakland Raiders training session in Southern California in early 2006, with his living expenses paid by Williams' drug money, according to the affidavit.

The Gatewood brothers were part of a group of "runners" who would allegedly move Williams' drugs to Montana dealers and buyers. Richard Gatewood spent his last months sending marijuana from Williams to other members of the Montana State football team.

The complaint states Williams suspended his cocaine distribution in June 2006 after another cocaine dealer was murdered in Bozeman but he resumed the operation in November 2006. Williams is alleged to be a member of a Fairfield gang that traffics in cocaine and guns, the complaint states.