FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE
May 26, 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 ARREST OF FLORENCE
ATTORNEY, ANOTHER MAN FOR MULTIPLE COUNTS OF
HUMAN TRAFFICKING, OTHER CRIMES
(MONTGOMERY)–Attorney General Luther Strange announced the arrest today of
an attorney and another man from Florence on a 24 count indictment which included
multiple charges of human trafficking and other crimes. Edward Ray Dillard, also known as
Chip Dillard, 51, an attorney, and Timothy Wylie Staggs, 83, were arrested and taken to the
Lauderdale County Jail.
Attorney General Strange’s Office presented evidence to a Lauderdale County grand
jury, resulting in an indictment* this morning against Dillard and Staggs.
Specifically, the indictment charges 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 is charged, in the same indictment,
with five counts of human trafficking in the second-degree and four counts of conspiracy to
commit human trafficking.
Human Trafficking is defined as knowingly 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. No further information about the
investigation or about the defendants’ alleged crimes other than that stated in the indictment
may be released at this time.
“Although we cannot provide other details at this time, I want to stress that this is an
ongoing investigation,” said Attorney General Strange. “We ask anyone who has information
related to possible crimes by these two men, to please come forward. I want also to thank
those involved in bringing this case, which was a cooperative effort by my office and
numerous agencies.” The Attorney General’s Office may be contacted by calling (334) 242-7300
501 Washington Avenue * Montgomery, AL 36104 * (334) 242-7300
www.ago.state.al.us Page 2 of 2
The possible penalties are 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 conspiracy to commit
human trafficking in the second-degree, a class C felony; one to 10 years for making a
terroristic threat, a class C felony; up to one year for sexual abuse in the second degree, a
class A misdemeanor; and one to 10 years for intimidating a witness, a class C felony.
Attorney General Strange commended Assistant Attorneys General Bill Lisenby and
John Kachelman of his Criminal Trials Division, and Special Agents of his Investigations
Division. He thanked the Lauderdale County District Attorney’s Office, the Lauderdale
County Sheriff’s Office, the Florence Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation,
the Lawrence County Drug Task Force, Lauderdale County Drug Task Force and the Colbert
County Drug Task Force for their assistance in the investigation and the arrest in this case.
*An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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