Two employees and the director of the animal shelters in Guilford and Davidson counties have posted bail following their indictment and arrest on felony charges of animal cruelty.
The arrest and indictment of Marsha Williams— former director of both shelters—and her daughter Dana Williams-King and another employee come after a month what is still an ongoing investigation into charges of animal cruelty at both shelters, which were managed by the nonprofit United Animal Coalition.
N&R had previously reported the federal Drug Enforcement Agency were conducting separate investigations in both counties, but yesterday’s article has more info into that aspect of the investigation:
The DEA oversees and regulates shelters and veterinary clinics since both handle drugs that are classified as controlled substances.
In addition to the animal cruelty indictment, Williams faces charges of keeping a controlled substance at the Davidson County shelter in July. She was also indicted on two felony counts of obstruction of justice for directing shelter employees to create false invoices for transferring the substance from the Guilford shelter to the Davidson shelter, and for instructing an employee to remove the drug from the Davidson facility in August.
The drug in question, tramadol, is an opioid pain medication prescribed to both animals and adults for management of moderate to severe pain, according to the DEA.
Marsha Williams had more than 100 tramadol tablets, according to court documents.
So–what was Marsha Williams doing with possession of tramadol tablets?