georgia drug trafficking cases

The defendants charged in the 24-count indictment, most of whom have made initial court appearances, include: Prentice Bond, a/k/a P, a/k/a Peze, 35, of Macon, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine, Crack and Marijuana; Distribution of Cocaine; two counts of Distribution of 28 Grams or More of Cocaine; Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine, 28 Grams or More of Crack Cocaine, and a Quantity of Marijuana; Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana; Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; and Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises; Travis Robinson, a/k/a T-Roc, 45, of Fairburn, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine, Crack and Marijuana; two counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; two counts of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; and Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises; Xavier Cross, a/k/a Ro, a/k/a Kairo, 45, or Macon, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine, Crack and Marijuana; three counts of Distribution of Cocaine; two counts of Distribution of 28 Grams or More of Cocaine; Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana; Possession with Intent to Distribute 500 Grams or More of Cocaine, and a Quantity of Oxycodone; Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine and Marijuana; two counts of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; two counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; and two counts of Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises; Charles Seang, 28, of Lilburn, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine, Crack and Marijuana; Chester Hall, a/k/a Cheeseburger, a/k/a Cheese, 40, of Macon, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine, Crack and Marijuana; Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana; Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine and Marijuana; Possession with Intent to Distribute 500 Grams or More of Cocaine, and a Quantity of Oxycodone; Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine and Marijuana; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; and Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises; Geneva Harvey, 39, of Macon, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine, Crack and Marijuana; Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana; two counts of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; two counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; and Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises; Shaneka Jackson, 43, of Macon, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine, Crack and Marijuana; Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine, 28 Grams or More of Crack, and a Quantity of Marijuana; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; Rodreco Jones, a/k/a Freako, a/k/a Rico, 39, of Macon, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine, Crack and Marijuana; Earnest Milline, a/k/a Rome, a/k/a Jerome, 62, of Macon, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine, Crack and Marijuana; two counts of Distribution of Cocaine; and Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana; Morgan Allison, 22, of Macon, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine, Crack and Marijuana; Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine; and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; George Leverett, 28, Macon, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine, Crack and Marijuana; and. It is a Schedule I drug, considered the most dangerous with no medicinal value. When the government charges someone, they draft an indictment, and thats agreed to by the grand jury, and then the government is stuck with that document. "Today, the Justice Department has taken several significant enforcement actions to disrupt large-scale illegal gun and drug . The first element is that there is an agreement to violate the drug laws, and that sounds pretty simple. A lock ( Ryan Brown handles drug trafficking cases across the state of Georgia. Motions to suppress evidence are based on the idea that law enforcement has violated an individuals Fourth Amendment right to be free of unreasonable searches and seizures or some other right protected by a specific Georgia law. To avoid the most serious penalties, hiring an experienced legal representative may be critical when you face a serious felony charge. 16-13-31(b). Trafficking generally includes allegations that an individual possesses, sells, distributes or manufactures a large amount of illegal drugs. The Georgia laws on drug trafficking can seem overly complicated, as the penalties for being caught trafficking vary not only on the type of drug but also on the amount and whether you have priors. So its lack of predisposition, and its that second thing, the government conduct. The heroine has probably the most unforgiving sentencing scheme. The large-scale operation in Georgia, West Virginia and New York follows recent efforts to combat violent crimes and keep repeat offenders behind bars. However, for small amounts of marijuana, or if your trafficking case is reduced to possession, you may be able to get your charges reduced to a misdemeanor. Punishment for possessing or distributing Schedule I drugs is the most severe. Trafficking generally includes allegations that an individual possesses, sells, distributes or manufactures a large amount of illegal drugs. The indictments come after a two-year-long investigation titled "Operation Ghost Busted," which looked into gang-related drug trafficking plaguing the Brunswick, . When trying to obtain a search warrant, law enforcement must prepare a supporting affidavit setting forth all relevant facts. 16-13-30). Major South Georgia drug trafficker sentenced to nearly two decades in federal prison Drug Enforcement Administration Robert J. Murphy, Jr. Special Agent in Charge Atlanta @DEAAtlantaDiv October 13, 2020 Contact: Chuvalo Truesdell Phone Number: (571) 362-3517 For Immediate Release On Friday, December 2, 2022, the GBI SWRDEO, Pelham Police Department, and the Thomas County Sheriff's Office executed three search warrants in Pelham, Mitchell County, GA. 264 E. Railroad Street, Pelham, GA, a car wash business owned and operated by Williams. Furthermore, possession of larger quantities of certain types of drugs (such as cocaine, opium, heroin, marijuana, and methamphetamine, to name a few) allows the presumption that the drugs were being trafficked which comes with much harsher punishment. Justin Adams, a/k/a Ace, 40, of Vidalia, and Andre Jackson, a/k/a Dre, 31, of Vidalia, were sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge R. Stan Baker, said Acting U.S. Attorney David H. Estes. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert McCullers is prosecuting the case. Clearly those individuals were part of a drug conspiracy. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. They dont have to show that a person even had drugs. The difference between drug trafficking and other drug crimes - like drug possession, drug distribution or drug manufacturing - is the quantity of drugs involved in the offense. For this quantity of cocaine the minimum prison sentence is 15 . Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. So, even if an individual doesnt have drugs on them, they can still face drug crime charges. If convicted of trafficking in Georgia of 200 grams or more but less than 400 grams, then the punishment range increases. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Similarly, these numbers will also go up for every amount over 2,000 pounds. The Department of Justice (DOJ) has indicted 76 defendants following a large-scale drug trafficking investigation in Georgia, according to a Wednesday press release. Dews was sentenced to serve 20 months in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release on March 3, 2021; and. 16-13-31.1 criminalize the sale, manufacturing, delivery, or transportation into the state of controlled substances. There is no requirement that the person actually has to handle any drugs. They had nothing to do with drugs until the government came along, either an undercover agent or an informant, and they went after this individual and tried to convince them to get involved. They will walk you through each legal process, demonstrating professionalism while being aggressive advocates for you. Georgia drug trafficking laws regulate the manufacture, distribution, delivery, and sale of controlled substances. The charge carries upon conviction a penalty of up to life in prison. Columbus: 706-649-7700. Because there is a larger amount of drugs involved in a trafficking case, drug trafficking charges can carry serious mandatory minimum prison sentences that usually increase with the quantity of the drugs. The most strict penalties for trafficking marijuana, on the other hand, are measured in pounds. The most common drugs in each schedule are as follows: O.C.G.A. This guide covers the basics of these laws and the penalties if someone violates them. to be charged with drug trafficking. If you are charged with trafficking cocaine, that is not merely a slap on the wrist. An individuals home receives greater protection under our Constitution than automobiles. According to Georgia law, selling drugs or trafficking a controlled substance can result in expensive drug charges that require substantial assistance. Anyone charged with drug trafficking in Georgia will need a good criminal defense attorney to help navigate the process. The operation, which started in mid-2019, targeted sources of illegal drugs brought into and distributed in the Macon area, and led to a series of searches in which large amounts of cocaine, crack cocaine, oxycodone, and marijuana were seized, along with nearly $97,000 in cash, a machine for pressing kilo-sized bricks of cocaine, money counters, scales, and drug packaging materials. The distribution of dangerous substances like, cocaine, crack, and marijuana continue to plague many communities. However, if the possession is 4-28 grams or more of opium, heroin, morphine, or several other substances under Schedules I and II, the punishment is much more severe. If the defect in the information submitted to the judge was necessary to find probable cause, the warrant will generally be voided by the court and any seized evidence will be suppressed. Of all drug charges, trafficking is often considered the worst, a conviction of which carries significant prison time, parole, and huge fines. On Saturday, January 14, a Columbus officer attempted to initiate a traffic stop in the area of Beacon . Second, the sentencing court may use its own discretion to depart from a mandatory minimum sentence if the defendant was not a leader in the drug operation, if the defendant did not possess a weapon, the criminal conduct did not result in a death or serious bodily injury, the defendant has no prior felonies, and the interests of justice will not be served by applying the mandatory minimum sentence. What usually happens in a Georgia criminal case? A person convicted of possessing a drug in Schedule III, IV, or V may be imprisoned for 1 to 5 years. As a general matter, possession of less than 1 ounce of marijuana is a misdemeanor (O.C.G.A. One of the most powerful tools a criminal defense lawyer has in a drug trafficking or possession case is the motion to suppress evidence. Although all trafficking charges are somewhat dependent on the amount involved, according to the Georgia marijuana law, the amounts that result in significant penalties are much larger than other drugs. Discovery usually consists of police reports, drug lab reports, search warrants, arrest warrants, witness statements, and any video or audio recordings. If you are convicted of trafficking marijuana, you may receive a sentence of five years and a fine of $100,000 for 10 to 2,000 pounds. You know, The government came after me. Consequently, if the officer conducting the traffic stop cannot adequately articulate why a driver was committing or had committed a traffic offense or a crime, the traffic stop is considered to be unlawful. Georgia Drug Trafficking Charges O.C.G.A. March 10, 2009 - Regional drug-fighting hub opens in Carrollton. 16-13-2). For instance, the driver may grant permission for the officer to search the vehicles trunk. . In many consent cases, an officer will exceed the scope of the drivers consent. Its just a general understanding or plan between two or more people to do something that violates the federal drug laws. Extra to the new charges against these suspected child rapists who frequently hashtagged their social media posts #gayfamily," there are now indications they may have trafficked the young boys to fellow pedophiles. STATESBORO, GA -Two Vidalia, Ga., men who played key roles in an expansive, gang-related drug trafficking ring in middle Georgia each have been sentenced to more than a decade in federal prison. Anderson faces a maximum sentence of four years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Ive been representing people in federal court over the past 20 years, and Ive handled a lot of federal drug conspiracy cases. The operation is being investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Bibb County Sheriff's Office Narcotics Unit, the Peach County Sheriff's Office, the Braselton Police Department and the Union City Police Department, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the U.S. Final Defendant Sentenced in Gang-Related South Georgia Meth-Trafficking Conspiracy Drug Enforcement Administration Robert J. Murphy, Jr. Special Agent in Charge Atlanta @DEAAtlantaDiv January 05, 2023 Contact: SA Crystal Harper Phone Number: (571) 362-3433 For Immediate Release MACON, Ga. - The primary supplier of a heroin distribution ring operating between Atlanta and Macon, which funneled up to 30,000 doses of heroin into the region over a three month span, pleaded guilty to his crime in federal court. 16-13-31(a), Trafficking marijuana: O.C.G.A. In early February 2019, Duffy moved into a house in Sandy Springs, Georgia, and used that residence to sell heroin. On February 22, 2019, pursuant to a valid federal search warrant, law enforcement searched Duffys narcotics sales location at his Sandy Springs home. 16-13-31 and O.C.G.A. Great example of this defense is a case I tried here in Atlanta a couple of years ago. So when they go to trial, if they dont prove exactly whats in that indictment, then the jury cannot find the person guilty. However, under O.C.G.A. Actual possession means that an individual has an illegal substance on them, in their proximity or that he or she has direct control over the drugs. There is no parole in the federal system. The judge may also impose non-monetary restrictions (house arrest, no contact provisions, GPS ankle monitor, curfew, etc . In the courtroom theres no doubt that they are accomplished masterful attorneys who represented my son being accused of a criminal crime he did not commit. Number one, the person was not predisposed at being involved in a drug conspiracy. Call us or complete the form below. If you are facing drug trafficking charges, a felony lawyer is a wise choice to ensure you receive no more than the mandatory minimum sentences in sentencing court or your case is dismissed. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. They dont have a history of it, theres not other evidence to show they were interested in finding out about the drug business. They tried to sell me drugs. Due to the superb work of Page and Jess, the charges were dropped. A locked padlock In Georgia, a motion to suppress evidence must generally be filed within 10 days after the arraignment date. March 25, 2009 - Carrollton man and two truck drivers from San Antonio, TX arrested for trafficking in 740 pounds of marijuana. Let our team of Newnan drug trafficking lawyers help you through this difficult time. Drug trafficking is a serious criminal charge based on certain quantities of illegal drugs. A driver who exhibits nervousness, however, is generally not enough to establish probable cause. Investigators from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), working with federal and local law enforcement agencies, identified Deltinaud Toussaint, a/k/a Black, a/k/a Tino, a/k/a Tino Black, 44, of Vidalia, as the primary supplier of the organizations narcotics including methamphetamine, cocaine, MDMA or Ecstasy, and marijuana through connections in Atlanta. Because of this, many counties have special units dedicated to stopping drug trafficking on the roadways. If convicted of a second or subsequent offense, he may be imprisoned for 10 to 40 years. 16-13-30 left off. The State may also introduce the search warrant into evidence along with any other evidence it deems to be relevant. The DEA encourages parents, along with their children, to educate themselves about the dangers of legal and illegal drugs by visiting DEAs interactive websites at www.justhinktwice.com, www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.com, www.campusdrugprevention.org and www.dea.gov. Secure .gov websites use HTTPSA lock ( PATRICK JOHNSON, 27, of Chicago, is charged with one count of murder in aid of racketeering. Its a Schedule II drug, and 28 grams was chosen as the threshold that can result in grave consequences. U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell is presiding over the hearings. Investigators also seized 39 illegally possessed firearms, ranging from pistols and shotguns to assault-style rifles. We dont think these people really need it, and so you violated the federal drug laws. Well, we were able to show the government that there was no unlawful agreement. If the search is characterized as an inventory search, the state must establish (among other things) that the search was conducted in accordance with that police departments policies regarding impounding vehicles and that the search was not simply a fishing expedition to find possible contraband. Another defense is that there is no knowledge of the agreement. You can also be charged with trafficking if you bring a large enough amount of a controlled substance from another country or state. A locked padlock And E. Greg Gilluly Jr. Jan 17, 2023. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. In that case, it is considered drug trafficking under Section 16-13-31 and the punishment is as follows: mandatory 5-year minimum imprisonment if the quantity is more than 4 but less than 14 grams and a $50,000.00 fine; mandatory 10 year minimum imprisonment if the quantity is more than 14 but less than 28 grams and a $100,000.00 fine; and mandatory 25 year minimum imprisonment if the quantity is more than 28 grams and a $500,000.00 fine. If successful, a motion to suppress evidence will usually result in the dismissal of all drug charges well before trial. MACON, Ga. The primary supplier of a heroin distribution ring operating between Atlanta and Macon, which funneled up to 30,000 doses of heroin into the region over a three month span, pleaded guilty to his crime in federal court. If you are convicted of 400 grams or more, you face a minimum prison sentence of 25 years and a $1,000,000 fine. charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine, Crack and Marijuana. This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justices violent crime reduction efforts. Disclaimer|Sitemap. Se Habla Espaol, 101 Marietta Street NWSuite 3300Atlanta, GA 30303(404) 223-3310, 2022 by The Church Law Firm LLC. 2022 by The Church Law Firm LLC. And then when they would distribute it in Atlanta, they would load it back up with cash, take it back to the Mexican border. It will serve as a multi-jurisdictional drug enforcement agency controlled by Georgia Bureau of Investigation. A person convicted of manufacturing, delivering, distributing, selling or possessing with intent to distribute a Schedule I or Schedule II drug may be punishment by 5 to 30 years imprisonment if it is the persons first offense. As a general rule, probable cause is determined by the totality of the circumstances. The Supreme Court has carved out an exception to the warrant requirement known as the automobile exception. For any offense after that, you can expect to receive between 10 and 40 years to life in prison. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. As experienced trial attorneys, we are also not afraid to take your case to trial if necessary. Macon, Georgia 31202-1702, Macon: 478-752-3511 Sometimes theyll say they had consent to search, the person agreed to it, but they really didnt. Understanding whats going on, they say, Hey, I wanna be a part of this. Now thats it, just those two elements. And it is. At the conclusion of the hearing, the State and the defense will argue why the drugs should be suppressed under the Fourth Amendment or a specific Georgia statute. We can be grateful that countless individuals have been saved from a drug overdose or a gunshot wound by the work of the law enforcement professionals in this operation., Operation Breaking the Bond is another example of the FBIs willingness to work with our federal, state and local partners to dismantle organizations that endanger our communities, said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. We get a lot of questions about the entrapment defense. The Macon area is much safer because of this operation., This operation demonstrates the hard work and dedication of federal, state, and local law enforcement professionals in interdicting and disrupting the channels of illegal drug distribution in our communities, said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. WAYCROSS, Ga. (WALB) - 76 drug traffickers were named in Operation Ghost Busted, the largest drug trafficking investigation in the Southern District of Georgia, on Jan. 11. A traffic stop is only lawful where the officer had reasonable grounds based on specific and articulable facts for making the stop. Individuals pulled over in their automobiles during a traffic stop do not enjoy the same level of protection and privacy. They are dangerous and threaten the safety of our communities. The amount of cocaine chosen as the dividing line between possession and trafficking is 28 grams. Official websites use .gov Both defendants will serve well-deserved time in prison., These sentences represent significant milestones in the prosecution of Operation Ace in the Hole, a multi-agency investigation disrupting a major source of illegal drugs and guns in the greater Toombs County area, said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. If you are convicted of 400 grams or more, you face a prison sentence of 25 to 30 years and a $1,000,000 fine. Toombs County residents can take comfort in these two sentences, and many more to follow, that will keep this predatory gang off their streets.. If you are facing drug trafficking charges, a felony lawyer is a wise choice to ensure you receive no more than the mandatory minimum sentences in sentencing court or your case is dismissed. 16-13-30 makes it illegal for a person to possess, purchase, or have under their control any controlled substance. If the officer then finds contraband hidden behind an air vent in the front compartment, a court would likely suppress the contraband as the officer exceeded the scope of the drivers consent. One of the things Ive learned is that most people, when theyre charged with something like this, really dont know what a drug conspiracy is. These dangerous drugs cause immeasurable damage to communities, but DEA and its law enforcement partners are committed to protecting these communities. Heroin, morphine, and opium, however, can be harshly penalized for a mere four grams. The difference between possession or selling methamphetamine from trafficking methamphetamine is the amount of drugs. Drug trafficking is a serious criminal offense, and although incidents are usually not as widespread as the recent bust of the alleged Mexico-based cartel, these types of cases are some of the most complexes. Here is a short video describing drug trafficking laws in Georgia, including some defenses that our firm has used in the past to win these cases at trial or successfully resolve them before they ever get to trial. So he had no knowledge of the agreement, and the jury found him not guilty of all charges. Many Georgia drug trafficking cases originate on the highways. The State generally has the burden of convincing the court that the drugs were the product of a lawful search. Or, in other words, either actual or constructive possession will be enough to establish the possession needed to support a drug trafficking charge. DEFINITION OF TRAFFICKING MARIJUANA. However, for small amounts of marijuana, or if your trafficking case is reduced to possession, you may be able to get your charges reduced to a misdemeanor. Somebodys house was searched, somebodys car was searched, a storage shed, a business. Nine defendants are among those facing federal charges including illegal possession of firearms after separate indictments by a grand jury in the Southern District of Georgia, while recent actions in Middle District of Georgia During the search, a Kel-Tec 9mm pistol, 9mm and .40 caliber ammunition, a bag containing small drug baggies and a quantity of suspected narcotics were seized. A person who purchases or possesses a non-narcotic Schedule II drug can be punished by imprisonment for 1-3 years (if less than 2 grams), 1-8 years (if more than 2 grams but less than 4 grams), or for 1-15 years (if more than 4 grams but less than 28 grams). And even if you do that, it only protects you going forward. By removing the most serious charges, you may be able to avoid the harshest sentences. Williams was in possession of approximately one ounce of methamphetamine and arrested. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Kalim is prosecuting the case. The operation is being investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Bibb County Sheriffs Office Narcotics Unit, the Peach County Sheriffs Office, the Braselton Police Department and the Union City Police Department, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the U.S. A total of 60 felony counts are alleged in the indictment. On the way back from purchasing heroin from Duffy on February 20, 2019, Summerfords van was stopped and the heroin was seized. Georgia drug trafficking laws punish those who break the law and keep society safe. Search for jobs related to Georgia drug trafficking cases or hire on the world's largest freelancing marketplace with 21m+ jobs. If you are charged with trafficking marijuana in Georgia, and the amount seized was somewhere between 10 pounds and 2,000 pounds, it is a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a $100,000 fine. | July 13, 2013. As long as theres an agreement between two or more people to do something that violates the federal drug laws, the government can prove that first element. A locked padlock August 2010 - Atlanta man, Marlon . This exception allows law enforcement to search a vehicle (that has been lawfully stopped) without a search warrant if there is probable cause to believe that the vehicle contains contraband. According to Georgia drug trafficking laws, for the lesser offenses of trafficking Schedule III, Schedule IV, and Schedule V controlled substances, you may receive 1 to 10 years in prison. Another high-profile case also involving Georgia took place in 2014. He was simply told that what was in the duffel bags had to do with their work, was never given any indication that those duffel bags contained drugs.

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