UNADILLA, Ga. (WALB) — A former cadet at Dooly State Prison in Unadilla pleaded guilty after he was found trying to bring more than half a kilogram of methamphetamine into the prison.

On Dec. 1, Julius Deshawn Williams Jr., 29, of Bonaire, Georgia, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, according to a release from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).

Williams faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. There is no parole in the federal system.

The DOJ said the court will schedule a sentencing date.

“Keeping narcotics out of our correctional facilities requires strong, united efforts across agencies,” said Robert J. Murphy, special agent in charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “This guilty plea is the result of that collaboration. DEA will continue to stand with our federal, state and local partners to ensure that anyone attempting to introduce dangerous drugs into a prison faces the full force of the law.”

According to statements referenced in court, Williams was a cadet undergoing training to become a correctional officer at Dooly State Prison.

The DOJ said Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) officers conduct a security check and shakedown of every person trying to enter the facility. On June 24, 2024, when Williams was trying to enter, GDC officers found four packages of methamphetamine wrapped in black tape hidden in his pants.

Officers then searched Williams’s vehicle and found four more packages of methamphetamine wrapped in black electrical tape, along with a pistol, according to the DOJ.

Williams admitted he was trying to bring the drugs into the prison to give to an inmate.

The DOJ said the packages contained 640 grams of methamphetamine that were 100% pure.

“Contraband in the hands of inmates gives them the ability to continue their criminal enterprise, so the efforts of our dedicated officers in stopping those who attempt to introduce these items is paramount in our commitment to public safety,” said GDC commissioner Tyrone Oliver. “We are pleased to see that justice has been served on this individual for his role in jeopardizing the safe and secure operations of our facilities.”

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Georgia Department of Corrections.

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