Steve Harvey’s radio co-host Shirley Strawberry recently wrote a “Strawberry letter” asking a judge to release her husband, Earnest “Ernesto” Williams, from jail.
Williams, 58, was arrested on fraud and child p0rnography charges. Police allegedly found a single indecent photo of an underaged child on his computer.
Williams was charged along with another woman, who is said to be his “girlfriend” Ericka King, 47, who pretended to be his attorney.
Strawberry, 69, was reportedly aware of her husband’s lover. They rented the house right next door to Shirley’s home in Roswell, Ga.
But Williams and King fell behind in their rental payments and began bouncing checks. Roswell police launched an investigation into their financial transactions and uncovered their million-dollar credit repair scam in 2022.
“They would align themselves with their victims with promises to be able to grow their brands, their missions, their life goals, their social media followings,” said Roswell Police Officer Tim Lupo.
Williams has an extensive criminal record that includes serving time in prison for fraud and armed robbery.
Williams’ connection to Strawberry was confirmed when she wrote a letter to the judge pleading for Williams’s release.
As a condition of his bond, the judge ordered Williams to stay away from Strawberry’s daughter, Sheridyn and her 2 children. He was also ordered to avoid any contact with animals.
When Williams wasn’t committing felonies, he was a respectable businessman who operated a popular 24-hour barbershop in Atlanta. The New York Times wrote an article about Williams’s barbershop in 2012.
Celebrities like Shaquille O’Neal and rapper Akon were among his well-heeled clientele.
According to Essence.com, a mutual friend introduced Strawberry to Williams in 2013. He proposed to her live on the Steve Harvey Morning Show with help from Shirley’s daughter, Sheridyn. “I was so surprised and happy!” Shirley said.
They were married on Ernesto’s birthday in January 2015. He was 50, she was 60.
The wedding photos are still posted on their Instagram pages. One photo shows Steve Harvey walking his longtime co-host down the aisle.
Williams captioned the photo: “Does your wife smile look like mines?”
“Shirley did very well for herself,” noted Madamenoire.com in an article dated Jan. 12, 2015.
YouTube vlogger Chronicle Speaks has all the salacious details below.
