Law enforcement also may not unreasonably prolong a traffic stop beyond the time required to fulfill the purpose of the stop (which is usually the time it takes to issue a citation). This case is an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation conductedby Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives (ATF), United States Marshals Service (USMS), the Monroe County Sherriffs Office, the Bibb County Sherriffs Office, and the Warner Robins Police Department. Watch thisvideo. Two Key Defendants in Middle Georgia Drug Trafficking Conspiracy Sentenced to Federal Prison 'Operation Ace in the Hole' targeted major drug distributors 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. The wiretap investigation ultimately led to the discovery of Duffy being the source of heroin supply. 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. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. In most states, such as Georgia, in order to be charged with drug trafficking, the case must involve more than several pounds of marijuana or an ounce or more . 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
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. In Cobb County, bonds for trafficking range from $65,000 up to $125,000. The person being charged, while there may be an agreement, he doesnt know about it. 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). Let our team of Newnan drug trafficking lawyers help you through this difficult time. Due to the superb work of Page and Jess, the charges were dropped. Georgia drug trafficking laws regulate the manufacture, distribution, delivery, and sale of controlled substances. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. March 25, 2009 - Carrollton man and two truck drivers from San Antonio, TX arrested for trafficking in 740 pounds of marijuana. Kathy Black, 40, of Macon, pleaded guilty to one count use of a communication facility to facilitate a drug trafficking offense. 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. He had been flying two folks from the Mexican border to Atlanta back and forth many times. For methamphetamine and/or amphetamine, any person who sells, delivers, or brings into this state or who possesses 28 grams or more is guilty of trafficking. Have a question about Government Services? Anyone charged with drug trafficking in Georgia will need a good criminal defense attorney to help navigate the process. A traffic stop is only lawful where the officer had reasonable grounds based on specific and articulable facts for making the stop. The following co-defendants have previously pleaded guilty for their crimes in federal court and are awaiting sentencing: Terrance Jackson, 43, of Macon, pleaded guilty to one count conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin. Under the law, there are two types of possession. Obtaining legal advice regarding the most current illegal drugs law can potentially save you money and trouble. Well, in that case the government may have shown that hes involved in drugs, but hes not a part of that conspiracy. Secure .gov websites use HTTPSA lock ( For this quantity of cocaine the minimum prison sentence is 15 . You know, The government came after me. When law enforcement seizes a significant quantity of drugs, its typically the result of a search involving an individuals home or automobile. 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. 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. Obie Wright, 66, of Warner Robins, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and two counts of distribution of cocaine base. A person, if convicted, who purchases or possesses either a Schedule I or narcotic Schedule II drug is guilty of a felony and may be punished by imprisonment for 1-3 years (if less than 1 gram), 1-8 years (if more than 1 gram but less than 4 grams), or for 1-15 years (if more than 4 grams but less than 28 grams). 16-13-31(e), Trafficking morphine, opium,or heroin: O.C.G.A. If you live in the state of Georgia, you are probably familiar with many of the controlled substance regulations, but if you are visiting or passing through, you should have a basic understanding of the Georgia drug trafficking laws. The way to challenge that is by filing a motion early in the case, getting a hearing, and then showing the judge that the search was unlawful. 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. Contact The Waltman Firm to schedule a consultation today! Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Individuals pulled over in their automobiles during a traffic stop do not enjoy the same level of protection and privacy. For example, if your charge of trafficking can be negotiated to a charge of drug possession, it may drop from a felony to a misdemeanor. Drug trafficking charges in Georgia are a felony. The number of illegally possessed firearms seized in this case also provides a glimpse into the dangerous underworld of narcotics trafficking.. This case is the product of a concerted collaborative effort on the part of ATF and its local partners to target, investigate, and eliminate the perpetrators of violent crime, said Beau Kolodka, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). If you've been charged with drug trafficking in Georgia, it's in your best interests to contact a local drug crime attorney who can help you understand and potentially challenge the most complicated aspects of the charges, such as determining whether the quantity of drugs amounts to trafficking. A Winsted, Connecticut, man pleaded guilty today to participating in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl over the darknet. Federal arrest warrants were executed in Warner Robins, Georgia, and elsewhere, today resulting from a federal indictment returned on Nov. 16, charging the following individuals: The charge of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime carries a mandatory minimum of five years up to a maximum life sentence and a $250,000 fine; The charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon carries a maximum ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine; The charges of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession of methamphetamine each carry a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years up to a maximum life sentence and a $10,000,000 fine; The charge of distribution of cocaine base carries a maximum sentence of twenty years and a $1,000,000 fine; and. 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. Columbus: 706-649-7700. The drugs were hidden in such items as childrens backpacks and baby-formula bottles. One defendant, Torey Johnny Lee Washington, a/k/a Fool, 40, of Vidalia, is a fugitive. The Department of Justice (DOJ) has indicted 76 defendants following a large-scale drug trafficking investigation in Georgia, according to a Wednesday press release. If the search was conducted pursuant to a warrant, there are three primary ways to attack the lawfulness of the search. 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. Case Update: Five of the eight individuals wanted by the #FBI for drug trafficking conspiracy in Georgia are in custody. Heroin, morphine, and opium, however, can be harshly penalized for a mere four grams. Adams, a regional leader in the Gangster Disciples criminal street gang, was sentenced as an armed career criminal after pleading guilty to Distribution of Cocaine and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. However, the quantity of marijuana being trafficked impacts the penalties, and even affects parole guidelines. 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. Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Situations often arise where a driver of an automobile is taken into custody for a traffic infraction such as driving with a suspended license or DUI. Because this analysis is subject to change depending upon recent cases and legal developments, you should not rely on this summary as legal advice. In Georgia, a motion to suppress evidence must generally be filed within 10 days after the arraignment date. There is very little difference between a trafficking charge and the lesser charge of O.C.G.A 16-13-30 (j) "Purchase, possession, manufacture, distribution, or sale of controlled substances or marijuana . 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. Now he ran a medical practice and he prescribed pain medication, opioid pain medication, to a number of different patients for chronic pain. 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. But if you have other questions, feel free to give us a call.. 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. In entrapment, you basically have to show two things. 16-13-31(a), Trafficking marijuana: O.C.G.A. In general, drug trafficking is defined as manufacturing, transporting, selling, or having an illegal substance in more significant quantities than would typically be needed for use alone. A controlled substance is a drug, an immediate precursor or essential compound used to make a drug, or marijuana. According to the ministry, at the time, that was the largest amount of drugs seized in Georgia. As described in the recently unsealed indictment, each of the 12 defendants is charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Controlled Substances, including 5 kilograms or more of cocaine; 28 grams or more of crack cocaine; and a quantity of marijuana. On Saturday, January 14, a Columbus officer attempted to initiate a traffic stop in the area of Beacon . As experienced trial attorneys, we are also not afraid to take your case to trial if necessary. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert McCullers is prosecuting the case. What is a drug conspiracy? The distribution of dangerous substances like, cocaine, crack, and marijuana continue to plague many communities. Obviously there was an agreement. Arthur Anderson, 57, of Macon, pleaded guilty to one count use of a communication facility to facilitate a drug trafficking offense. 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. Trafficking methamphetamine can also have serious consequences and penalties. U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell is presiding over the hearings. Look no further then Page Pate and Jess Johnson if you want the best trial lawyers to represent you! As outlined below, Georgia law defines both these controversial elements very broadly in trafficking matters. In June 2019, investigators executed search warrants at eight houses used for stashing or distributing narcotics in Atlanta and Vidalia, seizing more than two kilos of cocaine, four kilos of marijuana, half a kilo of methamphetamine, more than two kilos of MDMA, pints of Codeine, 600 grams of Xanax, pill presses, and surveillance equipment. Macon, Georgia 31202-1702, Macon: 478-752-3511
Jan 17, 2023. The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Georgia is recused from the case, which is being prosecuted by the Southern District. In some cases, the information submitted to the judge will be incomplete, false, stale, or obtained through unreliable sources. The Justice Department announced the arrest of more than 110 people on gun and drug charges in three states. According to Georgia law, selling drugs or trafficking a controlled substance can result in expensive drug charges that require substantial assistance. Now he faces many years in prison for the damage he has caused.. An official website of the United States government. Arrested for trafficking in Georgia are in custody only charges ; defendants are presumed innocent and! Today to participating in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl over the hearings a! 65,000 up to $ 125,000 where the officer had reasonable grounds based on specific and articulable facts making... 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