There are several viable defenses available to a person charged with drug possession. We will continue to work diligently along with our local and federal partners to investigate and dismantle drug trafficking organizations.. 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. COLUMBUS, Ga. (WTVM) - A man was arrested on multiple charges during a drug bust in Columbus. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Serving clients across the United States We represent clients in Atlanta and throughout the state of Georgia. As with any important legal question, you should always consult aGeorgia criminal defense lawyerlicensed to practice in your jurisdiction. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert McCullers is prosecuting the case. March 10, 2009 - Regional drug-fighting hub opens in Carrollton. Our lawyers are licensed to practice in all state and federal courts in Georgia. A criminal defense lawyer may attack: 1) the information used to procure the warrant; 2) the specificity of the warrant; and 3) the search itself. 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. For any offense after that, you can expect to receive between 10 and 40 years to life in prison. The heroine has probably the most unforgiving sentencing scheme. The State generally has the burden of convincing the court that the drugs were the product of a lawful search. In 2014, the Ministry of Internal Affairs seized approx. The people that he was carrying into Atlanta had large duffel bags with them, and it turns out they had a lot of cocaine in those duffel bags. But those are the basic elements and defenses involved in a federal drug conspiracy charge. to be charged with drug trafficking. The amount of cocaine chosen as the dividing line between possession and trafficking is 28 grams. Because of this, many counties have special units dedicated to stopping drug trafficking on the roadways. 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. 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 guide covers the basics of these laws and the penalties if someone violates them. Including Adams, Jackson, and Toussaint, 22 of the 26 defendants have entered guilty pleas; 12 of them have been sentenced, with terms of up to 141 months in prison. Secure .gov websites use HTTPSA lock ( So when they go to trial, if they dont prove exactly whats in that indictment, then the jury cannot find the person guilty. Columbus: 706-649-7700. Under Georgia law O.C.G.A. PATRICK JOHNSON, 27, of Chicago, is charged with one count of murder in aid of racketeering. 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. 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. The government does not have to show that there is some sort of formal agreement, or contract, or anything like that. Even though a judge signed off on it, the judge that handled the case said, I dont think there was sufficient probable cause here. They suppressed the wiretaps, they couldnt use them in trial. Weve done that in many cases, and usually because the evidence that they find during the search is so important, if we can keep that out, the case will be dismissed. What usually happens in a Georgia criminal case? 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. U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Georgia, Nine Federally Charged, Arrested in Middle GA Drug Trafficking Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), ACTIVITY IN THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, Man Indicted on Federal Racketeering Charge for Allegedly Murdering Teenage Girl To Increase Position in Violent Street Gang, Nine newly indicted on federal charges for crimes including drugs and illegal firearms possession, Nine Federally Charged, Arrested In Middle GA Drug Trafficking Investigation. 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. 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. Columbus: 706-649-7700. Official websites use .govA .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. A locked padlock The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Georgia is recused from the case, which is being prosecuted by the Southern District. The heroin that was seized at that time was tested at the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Mid-Atlantic Laboratory and was positively identified as heroin weighing 98.47 grams. Search for jobs related to Georgia drug trafficking cases or hire on the world's largest freelancing marketplace with 21m+ jobs. Also follow DEA Atlanta via Twitter at @DEAATLANTADiv. Weve been able to throw out two cases based on improper wiretaps. These laws can be confusing, so if you are charged with drug trafficking, consulting an experienced criminal defense attorney would be beneficial to your case. If you have been charged with a serious drug offense in Atlanta, or anywhere else in Georgia, it is imperative that you retain an aggressive Atlanta criminal defense attorney experienced in filing and arguing motions to suppress evidence. 16-13-31(c), if a person possesses, grows, brings into the state more than 10 pounds of marijuana, it is considered trafficking. 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) Post Office Box 1702 A few common defenses include: The information provided above is a very general summary of Georgia drug trafficking and possession law at the time this text was prepared. Official websites use .gov While the above-listed sentences are mandatory minimum sentences, there are three different ways a defendant can be sentenced to less than the mandatory minimum. 16-13-30). In order to convict somebody in federal court of a drug conspiracy charge, the government has to prove two elements. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Now he faces many years in prison for the damage he has caused.. The large-scale operation in Georgia, West Virginia and New York follows recent efforts to combat violent crimes and keep repeat offenders behind bars. Let our team of Newnan drug trafficking lawyers help you through this difficult time. 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. So there was no unlawful agreement. 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. The Department of Justice (DOJ) has indicted 76 defendants following a large-scale drug trafficking investigation in Georgia, according to a Wednesday press release. 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. The lawfulness of such a search depends heavily on how the search is characterized. 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. The punishment for trafficking or distributing drugs in any of these schedules is 1 to 10 years imprisonment. Nathaniel Ripley, 41, was sentenced Wednesday, Jan. 4, by . Disclaimer|Sitemap. Call us or complete the form below. A drug crimes attorney can help explain your options and offer advocacy and representation when you have been charged with being involved in a drug operation. You can also be charged with trafficking if you bring a large enough amount of a controlled substance from another country or state. POMEROY The Meigs County Sheriff's Department made two arrests in regards to the trafficking of illegal narcotics Sunday evening. A Winsted, Connecticut, man pleaded guilty today to participating in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl over the darknet. If, for example, law enforcement detained a driver accused of speeding for an hour simply to wait on the arrival of a drug sniffing dog, the court would likely find such prolonged detention to be unlawful. Furthermore, for larger quantities of certain types of drugs, a person may also be charged with drug trafficking (O.C.G.A. Im out. Thats fine, but to really take advantage of this defense you have to communicate that to either law enforcement, or make it clear to everybody else in the conspiracy. 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. Another high-profile case also involving Georgia took place in 2014. 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. 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