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Press release from the Humboldt County Drug Task Force:

On December 21st, 2024, Agents with the Humboldt County Drug Task Force (HCDTF) and Deputies with the Marijuana Enforcement Team (MET) served a search warrant on William Lavon Pree (43 years old from Antioch).

During the month of December, HCDTF received information that Pree was traveling to the Bay Area and purchasing large quantities of narcotics for the purpose of sales, and that he was in possession of firearms. Pree is a convicted felon for numerous violent offenses involving firearms including attempted homicide. 

HCDTF Agents observed Pree travel from Humboldt County, to Los Angeles, and then the Bay Area. Upon Pree’s return to Humboldt County, Agents conducted a traffic stop on his vehicle on Hwy 101 at Hookton Road in Loleta. The vehicle had four occupants, Josephine Lucy Daniels (Age 48 from Antioch), Willaim Pree, and two juveniles (ages 5 and 17). All occupants were detained without incident.

Agents searched Pree’s vehicle and located over 450 Xanax bars, a half pound of cocaine, a loaded 10MM Glock handgun, a loaded 9mm ghost pistol (privately manufactured with no serial number) equipped with a “Glock Switch” enabling the firearm to shoot fully automatic, more ammunition, high-capacity magazines, and a digital scale.

Both juveniles were transported to a safe location by law enforcement and Humboldt Child Welfare Services will receive the criminal report. Pree and Daniels were placed under arrest and transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility where they were both booked on the following charges:

• 11351 HS — Possession of narcotics for the purpose of sales 
• 11352(A) HS — Trafficking narcotics
• 11352(B) HS — Trafficking narcotics through noncontiguous counties 
• 11370.1 HS —Possession of a loaded firearm/narcotics
• 32625(A) PC — Possession of a machine gun
• 30605(A) PC — Possession of an assault weapon
• 25400(A)(1) PC — Illegally possessing a firearm inside of a vehicle
• 24610 PC — Possession on a non-detectable firearm
• 29800(a)(1) PC — Felon in possession of a handgun (Pree only)
• 30305(a)(1) PC — Felon in possession of ammunition (Pree only)
• 273A(A) PC — Felony child endangerment

Anyone with information related to this investigation or other narcotics related crimes is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Drug Task Force at 707-267-9976.