FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS ADVISORY
July 14, 2016
For More Information, contact:
Luther Strange
Mike Lewis (334) 353-2199
Alabama Attorney General
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
Page 1 of 2
AG STRANGE ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING COUNTS
FILED AGAINST FLORENCE ATTORNEY, ANOTHER MAN ALREADY FACING
INDICTMENT
(MONTGOMERY) – Attorney General Luther Strange announced additional counts
have been filed against a Florence attorney and another man who were originally
arrested May 26 on human trafficking charges. Edward Ray Dillard, also known as
Chip Dillard, 51, and Timothy Wylie Staggs, 83, were indicted on a total of 12 additional
counts Wednesday, including multiple charges of human trafficking. Dillard remained
in custody following his May 26 arrest and was served with the new charges on
Wednesday, while Staggs, who was free on bond, turned himself in this morning at the
Lauderdale County Jail.
Attorney General Strange’s Office presented new evidence to a Lauderdale County
grand jury on Monday, which resulted in an additional indictment* each issued against
Dillard and Staggs.
The new indictments charge Dillard with two counts of human trafficking in the first
degree (one involving a minor), one count of human trafficking in the second degree,
two counts of bribing a witness, two counts of destruction of evidence during an
Attorney General’s investigation, and two counts of tampering with evidence. Staggs is
charged in a new indictment with two counts of human trafficking first degree (one
involving a minor) and one count of human trafficking second degree.
On May 26, Dillard and Staggs were arrested on a 24-count indictment also including
multiple charges of human trafficking. That indictment charged Dillard with seven
counts of human trafficking in the second degree, four counts of conspiracy to commit
human trafficking in the second degree, one count of sexual abuse in the second degree,
two counts of making terroristic threats and one count of intimidating a witness. Staggs
was charged in the same indictment with five counts of human trafficking in the second
degree and four counts of conspiracy to commit human trafficking.
501 Washington Avenue * Montgomery, AL 36104 * (334) 242-7300
www.ago.alabama.gov Page 2 of 2
Human trafficking in the first degree is defined as either knowingly subjecting another
person to labor or sexual servitude through use of coercion or deception or knowingly
obtaining, recruiting, enticing, soliciting, inducing, threatening, isolating, harboring,
holding, restraining, transporting, providing or maintaining any minor for the purpose
of causing a minor to engage in sexual servitude. Human trafficking in the second degree
is defined as knowingly obtaining, recruiting, enticing, soliciting, inducing, harboring,
transporting, holding, restraining, providing, maintaining, subjecting or obtaining by
any means another person for the purpose of labor servitude or sexual servitude.
Dillard and Staggs are accused of using various methods to take advantage of young
female victims in the Lauderdale County area.
The possible penalties are 10 years to life for each count of human trafficking in the
first-degree, a class A felony; two to 20 years for each count of human trafficking in the
second-degree, a class B felony; one to 10 years for each count of bribing a witness, a
class C felony; one to 10 years for each count of destruction of evidence during an
Attorney General’s Office investigation, a class C felony; and up to one year for
tampering with evidence, a class A misdemeanor.
*An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until
proven guilty.
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