Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – August 3, 2017 – Maurice Donnell Williams, aka Reecy, 23, of Nashville, Tenn., was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court, to 18 years in prison, for gun and drug crimes, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jack Smith of the Middle District of Tennessee.

Williams was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2017 and pleaded guilty in May of this year.

“This is an example of the importance of citizens being engaged in efforts to reduce crime,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jack Smith. “Here, a citizen saw a concerning post on social media and reported it. The rapid response and investigation by law enforcement has now resulted in a dangerous criminal being removed from the community for a long period of time. Removing repeat offenders from our communities enhances our ability to combat street gangs and the violence often associated with illegal guns and drugs. I encourage our citizens to continue to assist law enforcement by reporting criminal activity when they become aware of it.”

According to court documents, Williams is a Bloods street gang member and had been convicted at the state level in 2012 for facilitation of aggravated robbery and in 2014 he was convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Williams was sentenced to prison on these charges and was released in March 2016.

In October 2016, Williams was arrested by Metropolitan Nashville Police Officers after fleeing a traffic stop near the East Community Center and the Explore! Community School in East Nashville. While fleeing from police, Williams discarded a jacket which held a loaded Kel-Tec 9mm pistol, cocaine, marijuana and digital scales.

On December 28, 2016, while out on bond for the October arrest, Williams was again arrested in the Cayce Homes area, after Nashville Police Officers found him with a loaded Ruger pistol in his pants. Officers had been monitoring surveillance cameras in the area after a Facebook Live video was forwarded to the Mayor’s Office, which showed several youths with multiple firearms in the Cayce Homes area. After this arrest, Williams again posted bond and was released from custody.

A subsequent review of the Williams’ charges and criminal history, as part of a joint effort by local and federal law enforcement to reduce violent crime in public housing areas, resulted in the federal indictment and Williams was held in federal custody without bond.

“Williams’ prior arrests and convictions over the years obviously did not dissuade him from continued criminal activity, which put persons in the Cayce community at risk,” Chief Steve Anderson said. “I am grateful to the United States Attorney’s Office and the ATF for their valued partnership as we address violent felons who pose a danger to our citizens.”

In imposing the 18-year prison sentence, Chief U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw noted the prior convictions for violent offenses and the danger Williams posed to the public, due to his history of repetitive armed offenses.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives and the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sunny A.M. Koshy.

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