June 2nd 2024.
The news of Earnest Williams' indictment has shocked many, especially those who are familiar with his wife, radio personality Shirley Strawberry. The State of Georgia has charged Williams under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act on 39 counts. It has also been revealed that their marriage is also under scrutiny as it is believed to have aided Williams' illegal activities.
According to reports from WSBTV, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has been aggressively using the state's RICO act, and in this case, she claims Williams' criminal activities date back to 2009. "He has been deceiving people for over a decade, from 2009 to 2022. He presented himself as a legitimate businessman, but in reality, he was stealing from innocent people, taking their money, vehicles, and exploiting them," Willis stated.
Furthermore, Willis commented on the marriage between Williams and Strawberry, stating that Williams was already married to someone else at the time they got married. "It seems that Shirley met a man, fell in love, and married him, unaware that he was already married to someone else," Willis explained. This is a complex case that has raised many questions and attracted a lot of attention.
The 39-count indictment alleges that Williams fraudulently married Shirley Strawberry, who is a co-host on the popular "Steve Harvey Morning Show." It is also believed that Williams used Strawberry's fame and status to gain access to more victims. As reported by Sportskeeda, court documents reveal that Williams had planned to use the marriage as a part of his long con. Although Strawberry is not involved in any way, her association with Williams might have played a role in his ability to deceive more people.
It has been reported that Strawberry filed for divorce from Williams in April, shortly after his initial indictment. However, the couple had already separated in March 2022. According to attorneys involved in the case, Williams used the marriage as a way to gain access to more victims. He is accused of defrauding at least 25 individuals and stealing over $750,000 from them. He used various tactics, such as refusing to return personal vehicles, issuing bad checks, and claiming ownership of properties that did not belong to him.
One of Williams' alleged accomplices, Ericka King, is listed on the indictment and is believed to have posed as his lawyer in the past. She even represented him in some court proceedings. However, King has also been indicted on 19 charges of her own. According to the District Attorney's office, Williams' victims were often women, and there could be more victims yet to be identified. Court documents state, "From at least December 1, 2009, through June 30, 2022, Earnest Williams engaged in a pattern of racketeering activity in Fulton County, Georgia, elsewhere in the State of Georgia, and in other states."
Deputy District Attorney Will Wooten spoke to WSBTV and shed more light on Williams' tactics. "Earnest Williams often created the impression of a close or romantic relationship with many of his victims. He used these relationships to take money, vehicles, trailers, RVs, and other property from them," Wooten explained. He also added, "He presented himself as a legitimate businessman, but in reality, he was just stealing from people." The investigation is still ongoing, and authorities believe there could be more victims yet to come forward. This is a serious case that has left many wondering how someone could deceive so many people for so long.
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