Naval Academy midshipmen court-martialed over drug case

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Naval Academy’s superintendent is moving ahead with a court-martial against a midshipman accused of distributing illegal drugs.

Vice Adm. Ted Carter, the academy’s superintendent, told the academy’s Board of Visitors Monday that an arraignment for Midshipman Zachary Williams is scheduled for Sept. 10 at the Washington Navy Yard.

Cmdr. David McKinney, an academy spokesman, says charges allege that Williams “engaged in the wrongful possession, distribution, introduction, and use of controlled substances.”

Antoinette O’Neill, Williams’ civilian attorney, declined to comment Monday.

Williams is accused of acquiring the drugs on the dark web, where people search for drugs through secret web browsers and buy them using encrypted channels, code names and virtual currencies.

The charges are based on an investigation by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service that began in November.