A defense attorney in Florida has found himself in serious trouble after being arrested for allegedly smuggling drugs into the Duval County Jail. Nathan Williams, 37, was taken into custody on January 5 and now faces eight felony charges, including two counts of providing controlled substances to inmates. The arrest was part of a lengthy investigation by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, who revealed the details during a press conference on January 7.
This investigation, called Operation Stamp Collection, was launched back in February 2024 after a sudden spike in inmate overdoses at the jail in Jacksonville. According to Undersheriff Shawn Coarsey, Williams worked with inmates and their families to sneak in “drug-soaked” papers disguised as legal documents. These papers were reportedly soaked in ADB-PINACA, a synthetic form of marijuana known on the streets as “K2” or “paper dope.”
Here’s how it allegedly worked: Williams would bring these drug-laced papers into the jail under the pretense of delivering legal paperwork. Inmates would then abuse the drug-soaked sheets. Coarsey explained that this wasn’t part of a larger drug-smuggling ring but instead involved individual arrests. So far, 21 people have been taken into custody as part of the operation, and investigators believe more arrests are likely to follow.
The accusations against Williams include coordinating with inmates and their families to carry out this scheme and receiving money for his role. In addition to smuggling drugs, he’s also facing charges for using communication devices unlawfully and conspiring to introduce controlled substances into the jail.
Williams, who has no prior criminal record and is a member of the National Guard, was released on bond on January 7. He is scheduled to appear in court again on January 28.
The investigation highlights the lengths people go to smuggle drugs into jails, posing serious risks to the inmates and creating challenges for law enforcement. As this case unfolds, authorities are working to ensure no more illegal substances find their way behind bars.
