Poplar Bluff marijuana suspect surrenders

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- A Poplar Bluff, Mo., man turned himself in Thursday afternoon after being charged earlier in the day with possessing more than 7 pounds of suspected marijuana with intent to distribute.

Billy Dean Williams Jr., 32, was arrested at the Poplar Bluff Police Department on a warrant for the Class B felony of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.

Poplar Bluff detective Jason Morgan said police executed a search warrant on Williams' house Dec. 29 and found about 7 pounds of what he described as compressed marijuana; $1,700 in cash, believed to be drug proceeds; digital scales; and packaging materials, such as plastic sandwich bags.

Morgan said the street value of the suspected marijuana is about $8,400.

According to the information provided to the Poplar Bluff Police Department and the SEMO Drug Task Force, "this has been going on for a long time. That's what he does; he's a weed dealer," Morgan said. "He sits in the floor all day, plays Xbox and sells weed, which is what he was doing when we kicked the door in."

Williams is being held in the Butler County Jail on a $15,000 bond, with 10 percent to be deposited with the court. He is scheduled to appear at 9 a.m. Thursday before Associate Circuit Judge John Bloodworth for arraignment.

Pertinent address:

Poplar Bluff, Mo.