NATION : Ex-Teamsters Boss Williams, Jailed for Bribe Conspiracy, Dies at Home

Former Teamsters Union President Roy Lee Williams died today at his farm home after a lengthy bout with emphysema and heart problems.

Williams, 73, was released from federal prison in September after serving three years of a 10-year sentence for attempting to bribe a senator over trucking legislation.

Williams served as international president of the Teamsters Union from 1981 to ’83.

He was forced to resign after he was convicted in December, 1982, of trying to bribe former Sen. Howard Cannon of Nevada to influence trucking deregulation. Cannon was not charged in the case.

Though he maintained his innocence during the 1982 trial, Williams acknowledged his role in the conspiracy case during testimony in 1985 in a Kansas City trial.

Williams testified that while he was a Kansas City labor leader he had been under the control of reputed crime boss Nick Civella, receiving payoffs of $1,500 a month for seven years.