In another situation, another wiretap case, the government had probable cause to get the wiretap but they didnt follow the specific requirements of the statute. Their dedication and complete commitment to their client is beyond reproach. But my client, even though he carried them into Atlanta, even though he flew them back and obviously helped them accomplish their unlawful plan, he didnt know about it. But, in some cases, a judge can depart from the mandatory minimum term of imprisonment if, for example, the persons criminal conduct didnt result in death or serious injury, or they didnt possess a dangerous weapon or a firearm at the time when the crime was committed. But those are the basic elements and defenses involved in a federal drug conspiracy charge. Toombs County residents can take comfort in these two sentences, and many more to follow, that will keep this predatory gang off their streets.. Investigators also seized 20 firearms, including a fully automatic machine gun and several assault-style rifles, a trove of gang-related documents, and nearly $50,000 in cash. The difference between drug trafficking and other drug crimes-such as possession of drugs, distribution of drugs or drug production-is the number of drugs implicated in the offense. If that is the case, you can work with our law firm, and we can build a defense to help you get a . In December 2017, following the arrest of a heroin dealer in Macon, federal and local law enforcement began investigating heroin distribution by co-defendant Summerford. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Great example of this defense is a case I tried here in Atlanta a couple of years ago. We represent clients in Atlanta and throughout the state of Georgia. A locked padlock Marshals Service, and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Marshals Service, and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Have a question about Government Services? 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. If you are convicted of moving 10,000 pounds or more, you face a sentence of at least fifteen years and a fine of million dollars ($1,000,000). 16-13-30). 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. 16-13-31.1 criminalize the sale, manufacturing, delivery, or transportation into the state of controlled substances. Help locate the three that are still wanted . 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). To avoid accidentally committing a crime, it is wise to learn as much as you can about the drug trafficking laws in Georgia. All rights reserved. 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 Jackson faces a maximum 20 years in prison to be followed by at least three years of supervised release and a $1,000,000 fine; and. 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 We will continue to work diligently along with our local and federal partners to investigate and dismantle drug trafficking organizations.. March 10, 2009 - Regional drug-fighting hub opens in Carrollton. Wade Watkins: Count 1- Trafficking Methamphetamine, 400 Grams or More (Conspiracy) Prison Empire: 2019-GS-47-23 (Pickens County) Count 1: Trafficking Methamphetamine, 400 Grams or More (Conspiracy) One of the most powerful tools a criminal defense lawyer has in a drug trafficking or possession case is the motion to suppress evidence. 2022 by The Church Law Firm LLC. 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. Another defense, which is also a little complicated and difficult to use, is that the person withdrew from the conspiracy. Horrific new details have emerged in the case of the LGBT activist couple arrested in Georgia this past summer on suspicion of using their two adopted children to make child porn.. But he realized down the road he did not wanna be a part of this, and so he said, Look, you know, Im done with this. The most common drugs in each schedule are as follows: O.C.G.A. They also criminalize the mere possession of larger quantities of certain controlled substances, picking up where O.C.G.A. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. If you are convicted of trafficking an amount of cocaine between 28 and 200 grams, the sentence can be ten to thirty years in the state penitentiary and a fine of $200,000. 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. For any offense after that, you can expect to receive between 10 and 40 years to life in prison. And E. Greg Gilluly Jr. The number of illegally possessed firearms seized in this case also provides a glimpse into the dangerous underworld of narcotics trafficking.. Ive been representing people in federal court over the past 20 years, and Ive handled a lot of federal drug conspiracy cases. Properly filing and arguing a motion to suppress in a serious drug case could mean the difference between spending decades in prison and having the entire case dismissed. In Cobb County, bonds for trafficking range from $65,000 up to $125,000. Adams was sentenced to 165 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, while Jackson was sentenced to 188 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. On a number of occasions, co-defendants Summerford, Black and Patrick Dews would travel to metro-Atlanta to purchase heroin from Duffy, generally 142 grams on each trip enough heroin to provide more than 1,000 doses. Arthur Anderson, 57, of Macon, pleaded guilty to one count use of a communication facility to facilitate a drug trafficking offense. Under Georgia law, there are five different schedules or groups of types of drugs. Albany: 229-430-7754 Post Office Box 1702 If the search was done incident to the arrest, the officer must have had a reason to believe that there was evidence in the vehicle relating to the crime for which the driver was arrested. Furthermore, for larger quantities of certain types of drugs, a person may also be charged with drug trafficking (O.C.G.A. watch thisvideo. They tried to sell me drugs. The first element of trafficking involves whether you: The second element involves possessing, manufacturing, delivering, or distributing a certain amount of a drug, which varies between the controlled substances. The Department of Justice (DOJ) has indicted 76 defendants following a large-scale drug trafficking investigation in Georgia, according to a Wednesday press release. However, the quantity of marijuana being trafficked impacts the penalties, and even affects parole guidelines. Because of this, many counties have special units dedicated to stopping drug trafficking on the roadways. Official websites use .gov Nathaniel Ripley, 41, was sentenced Wednesday, Jan. 4, by . Those numbers go up with every amount over 200 grams. Some are truly illegal (like heroin) and some are legal with a valid prescription from a doctor. Anderson faces a maximum sentence of four years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. If the government can prove both of these things then they can charge someone with a drug conspiracy. 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. You know, The government came after me. 16-13-31 (c), a person commits the offense of Trafficking in Marijuana when he or she sells, manufactures, grows, delivers, brings into this state, or has possession of a quantity of marijuana exceeding ten pounds. "Today, the Justice Department has taken several significant enforcement actions to disrupt large-scale illegal gun and drug . Read aboutour firms successin Georgia criminal cases. The judge must then determine if law enforcement has provided enough information to establish probable cause to believe that a crime has been or is being committed at a specific location. 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. Secure .gov websites use HTTPSA lock ( 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. And it is. Lock They dont have to show that a person even had drugs. 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. An experienced attorney may be able to get the prosecutor to consent to a bond in the case if you have ties to the community and meet the above factors. Its a different conspiracy, and so the jury has to find him not guilty. Under Georgia law, it is illegal to possess, manufacture, deliver, distribute or possess with intent to distribute any controlled substance (O.C.G.A. A total of 60 felony counts are alleged in the indictment. It will serve as a multi-jurisdictional drug enforcement agency controlled by Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The judge may also impose non-monetary restrictions (house arrest, no contact provisions, GPS ankle monitor, curfew, etc . The 118-count, 133-page indictment charges the 76 suspects with involvement in a drug trafficking conspiracy that distributed large amounts of methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin and alprazolam in . On the way back from purchasing heroin from Duffy on February 20, 2019, Summerfords van was stopped and the heroin was seized. What is Drug Trafficking? Case Update: Five of the eight individuals wanted by the #FBI for drug trafficking conspiracy in Georgia are in custody. 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