by Wesley Harris
A Ruston man has been sentenced to over 17 years in prison after he appeared in federal court last week.
On September 18, United States District Judge David C. Joseph sentenced Charles Lamar Williams, 31, of Ruston, to 208 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, followed by five years of supervised release, after his guilty plea on March 16.
According to police and court documents, Williams was arrested on August 16, 2025, inside a Ford Fiesta parked at an apartment complex in Ruston. Agents recovered pure methamphetamine and cocaine, cocaine base, hydrocodone, approximately 984 grams of marijuana, 148 grams of synthetic marijuana, 34 fluid units of promethazine, alprazolam, and other drugs and related paraphernalia.
At the time, Ruston Police called Williams’s apprehension “a significant drug arrest.”
At about 4:43 p.m. that day, Ruston Police officers were conducting routine patrols in the parking lot of a local apartment complex when they saw Williams seated inside a parked vehicle. Officers recognized Williams and were aware that he had active warrants for his arrest.
As officers awaited backup, Williams entered an apartment within the complex. Officers were able to locate the apartment, make contact with the residents, and safely take Williams into custody without incident.
Officers saw, in plain view through the vehicle’s rolled-up windows, a bag of suspected methamphetamines, multiple pill bottles with the labels removed, and mail bearing Williams’ name. The Lincoln Parish Narcotics Enforcement Team was contacted, and a search warrant for the vehicle was obtained.
The search recovered a substantial quantity of illegal narcotics and related contraband, including $6,033 in U.S. currency.
In a prepared statement after the arrest,, RPD said, “This arrest and seizure represent a significant disruption to illegal drug activity in the Ruston community. The Ruston Police Department remains committed to working alongside local and regional partners to combat narcotics trafficking and to ensure the safety of our citizens.”
