Fred Wills Jr., chef and owner of Big Daddy's: A Touch of the South restaurant in Virginia Beach, is accused of cooking up something a little spicier than gumbo. How about a multimillion-dollar cocaine and marijuana ring.
A 26-page federal indictment details Wills' alleged drug dealing, dating back to 2002, and states that, along with his wife, Willis sold more than 240 pounds of cocaine and laundered money through his restaurants.
Wills said in a television interview that he had been homeless in the past and had served more than a decade in prison for armed robbery. It's too bad that his obvious skills in cooking and business building may end up going to waste if he is convicted.
But I'm sure the warden will find a spot for Willis in the kitchen.
I have no sympathy for drug dealers, but I think there are some special circumstances that should be examined in this case.
First of all, Wills was known in the community for having a generous heart, giving out free dinners, helping the homeless and donating free text books to needy children.
Another factor in Wills' favor is his life story. If what he told the television reporter is true, Wills didn't duck the fact that he wasn't exactly a choirboy while growing up.
Lots of people make mistakes: what about all the actors, actresses, athletes and elected officials who have been in court for crimes ranging from murder to drug possession. Lots of them get second and third chances and I would like to see Wills get the same consideration.
Unfortunately, things aren't starting out well for him, though.
The federal judge handling the case denied bail to Wills, his wife Makieshea Wills and accomplice Kendall Callaham.
Most telling for me, though, was the crowd of tearful, anguished supporters outside the courthouse when bail was denied. To me, that shows that while Wills is far from perfect if the government charges are true, there is something good inside him that is worth saving.
Watch Wills in an interview about his cooking here:
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27-July-10 - Mocienne Petit Jackson, a Netherlands woman who claims to be the child of pop sensation Michael Jackson and Diana Ross' sister, Barbara Ross, has filed documents in a Los Angeles court, according to TMZ.
23-July-10 - Could it be that Rangel simply forgot the rules? Did it slip his mind that he wasn't supposed to use his letterhead to get corporate donations for a building named after him, as charged? That's not the Charlie Rangel I knew, but that Rangel will surely be exposed when his trial starts.
23-July-10 - R&B heartthrob Brian McKnight, who was accused of being a long-lost baby daddy to a 14-year-old Florida boy, is not be the child's biological father.
22-July-10 - Staying out of trouble is not an easy feat for rapper Foxy Brown, who was arrested in Brooklyn on Wednesday for violating an order of protection, according to TMZ.
23-July-10 - A child pyromaniac is suspected of murdering his mother and siblings, setting fire to his home, and then slitting his own throat with a razor.
22-July-10 - Ieshuh Griffin is a legislative candidate from Wisconsin who seems willing to do whatever it takes to get elected. In the five words that candidates are allowed to put on the ballot to describe themselves, Griffin put the phrase, "Not the white man's b*tch."
21-July-10 - DeFarra Gaymon, a father of four and the CEO of Credit Union of Atlanta, was shot to death in a Newark, N.J. park known for male prostitution.
20-July-10 - Snoop Dogg and his wife revealed to People Magazine that the discovery that their then-6-year-old daughter, Cori, had lupus helped bring their family closer.
Dang it all!!! I live in VA Beach, and now I find out this guy was selling weed??? All those times of it being "dry" around here and come to find out this guy had it all! Always to little to late!! Man I am so out of the loop in this town!
Legalize it!!!!!!Driven by the Drug War, the U.S. prison population is six to ten times as high as most Western European nations. The United States is a close second only to Russia in its rate of incarceration per 100,000 people. In 2000, more than 734,000 people were arrested in this country for marijuana-related offenses alone.
The US war on drugs places great emphasis on arresting people for smoking marijuana. Since 1990, nearly 5.9 million Americans have been arrested on marijuana charges, a greater number than the entire populations of Alaska, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming combined. In 2000, state and local law enforcement arrested 734,498 people for marijuana violations. This is an increase of 800 percent since 1980, and is the highest ever recorded by the FBI. I think the time has come to take a serious look at legalization.
don't be silly they would never do so,because they make profits of it,cops,lawyers,judges,doctors is an industry,they make it a big deal but is not.i am not encouraging any body to do drugs but remember every single drug that you used daily made up with cocaine.sleeping pills,cough medicine and more.talking about marijuana and forgot the cigarette smoking which is really bad for help,do you know what the tabacco industries paying taxes uncle sam doesn't care too much about the youth who in a early age abusing it and become later adicted.but the coca sellers don't pay taxes to uncle sam they are independents contractors here are the issues and the biggest problem.us citizen open your eyes before is too late!
So what, they have been doing and getting away with for years!!!and guess what they will continue to get away with it and we all know why!!! They are all CORRUPT!!!
Ain't Mike "dog killa" Vick from down there? And, hasn't he had some drug problems before? Maybe the Commish' should check out if Mike has helped to fund this as well!
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Comments: (37)
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By: jeromequigley on 8/03/2010 1:50PM
Dang it all!!! I live in VA Beach, and now I find out this guy was selling weed??? All those times of it being "dry" around here and come to find out this guy had it all! Always to little to late!! Man I am so out of the loop in this town!
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By: THEONEANDONLY on 8/04/2010 4:55PM
lol!
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By: eria on 8/04/2010 1:05PM
Ha Ha U silly
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By: denishawilliams on 8/04/2010 1:04PM
THHHHHAAAAATTTTSSSSS WHY BLACKS HHHHHAAAAAVVVEEE NNNNNOOOOOOTTTTHHHHHIIIINNNNNGGGGG
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By: seriously on 8/17/2010 6:33PM
Your an idiot....
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By: Jamel on 8/03/2010 3:19PM
Legalize it!!!!!!Driven by the Drug War, the U.S. prison population is six to ten times as high as most Western European nations. The United States is a close second only to Russia in its rate of incarceration per 100,000 people. In 2000, more than 734,000 people were arrested in this country for marijuana-related offenses alone.
The US war on drugs places great emphasis on arresting people for smoking marijuana. Since 1990, nearly 5.9 million Americans have been arrested on marijuana charges, a greater number than the entire populations of Alaska, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming combined. In 2000, state and local law enforcement arrested 734,498 people for marijuana violations. This is an increase of 800 percent since 1980, and is the highest ever recorded by the FBI. I think the time has come to take a serious look at legalization.
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By: luk on 8/04/2010 10:21PM
don't be silly they would never do so,because they make profits of it,cops,lawyers,judges,doctors is an industry,they make it a big deal but is not.i am not encouraging any body to do drugs but remember every single drug that you used daily made up with cocaine.sleeping pills,cough medicine and more.talking about marijuana and forgot the cigarette smoking which is really bad for help,do you know what the tabacco industries paying taxes uncle sam doesn't care too much about the youth who in a early age abusing it and become later adicted.but the coca sellers don't pay taxes to uncle sam they are independents contractors here are the issues and the biggest problem.us citizen open your eyes before is too late!
Report This
By: Fre on 8/03/2010 4:02PM
So what, they have been doing and getting away with for years!!!and guess what they will continue to get away with it and we all know why!!! They are all CORRUPT!!!
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By: derel on 8/03/2010 6:17PM
Ain't Mike "dog killa" Vick from down there? And, hasn't he had some drug problems before? Maybe the Commish' should check out if Mike has helped to fund this as well!
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By: thmjan on 8/04/2010 10:36AM
Lock up all Drug Dealers and throw away the key! Enough families have been destroyed and weaken!
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