The Truth of Billy Wallace
William John “Billy” Wallace was born in West Bromwich, England, and raised in a working-class family on the Yew Tree Estate in Walsall. From an early age, he learned resilience and determination. At 18, he joined the British Army, where he served five years. His time in uniform gave him discipline and strength, but also left him with PTSD — a challenge that would follow him through later years.
Building a Life in Business
After leaving the Army, Billy turned to entrepreneurship. In the early 2000s, the UK cannabis trade was dominated by low-quality imports from Holland, often sprayed with chemicals. Billy saw a better way. He began growing cannabis himself, focusing on clean, consistent quality for medical users.
His entrepreneurial drive soon extended beyond cultivation. He built up a haulage company, opened a bar, and launched a nightclub — proving his ability to create and manage successful ventures.
California – A Legal Cannabis Pioneer
n 2010, Billy moved his family to Orange County, California, to pursue opportunities in the legal cannabis industry.
There, he founded Glasshouse Brands, which grew into one of the largest and most recognized cannabis companies in the world. He also became the largest importer of organic fertilizer in the United States, and his reputation earned him respect across the industry.
In 2013, Billy was invited to Uruguay to present to their government as they considered legalizing cannabis. That same year, he became one of the first individuals to receive a legal license to sell cannabis in San Diego.
But when Billy was later imprisoned, he was forced to sell his shares in Glasshouse Brands — losing the company he had built.
Family and Custody Struggles
Billy’s daughter, Ariah Wallace, was born in 2009. Her mother, Jodie Silver (later known as Jodie Word), became involved in stripping and later prostitution. Evidence of this was found through emails, texts, bank records, and witness statements.
Billy’s only focus was on protecting his daughter. Acting on legal advice, he hired a private investigator, Sean Hyepock, to document Jodie’s activities in support of a custody claim.
What Billy did not know was that Hyepock was secretly working with Detective Jeff Launi and Investigator William Beeman. Together, they set out to trap him.
Lies, Pressure, and Entrapment
Hyepock and law enforcement lied to Billy, telling him that his daughter was being sexually abused while her mother was engaged in prostitution. This allegation was later proven false in court.
Already living with PTSD, Billy was pushed to the edge by the belief that his daughter was in imminent danger. Under this pressure, Hyepock goaded him into conversations about extreme actions.
But the facts are clear:
No money was ever exchanged.
No agreement was ever made.
No direct step was ever taken.
The “evidence” was words spoken by a desperate father, manipulated by lies.
The Trial and the Plea
Billy’s first trial ended in a hung jury. The jurors could not agree, which shows there was already doubt about the prosecution’s case.
After this, the prosecutor offered a plea deal: 9 years in prison instead of risking life without parole if convicted in a second trial. At first, Billy refused.
Then his father spoke to him:
“Son, please take the deal. I want to walk down the street with you again in Spain before I die.”
It was not guilt that led Billy to accept — it was fear of losing his father before ever being free again. The plea was an act of sacrifice, not admission.
What the Transcripts Show
The official trial transcripts — available in the menu section of this website — reveal facts that were never told by the press:
The molestation story was false.
No money ever changed hands.
Meetings and pressure came from the informant, not Billy.
Tapes and records were missing at key moments.
Even the judge instructed that if entrapment occurred, the jury must find Billy not guilty.
The Media vs. The Truth
At the time, the media painted the story as if Billy’s case was about avoiding child support. That was a lie.
The truth is that Billy was misled into believing his daughter was being abused. Everything he did came from fear for her safety. The transcripts prove this, while the press chose to sensationalize.
Today
Billy continues his fight for justice and for his daughter. He has tried to reach Ariah through her stepfather, Jared Word, through her social media, and through the website ariahword.com.
The only real victim in this ordeal is Ariah Wallace, caught between lies, manipulation, and misconduct. One day, she will know the truth — and she will see it written not in headlines, but in the official court record itself.