georgia drug trafficking cases

Theyll be recording the conversations that people in this alleged conspiracy have, then they will use those tapes against them in court, but they have to do it the right way. The OCDETF case was investigated by the ATF, the DEA, the FBI, the GBI, the Georgia Department of Community Supervision, the Toombs County Sheriffs Office, the Lyons Police Department, the Oconee Drug Task Force, and the Liberty County Sheriffs Office, and is being prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. After reviewing the discovery, a criminal defense attorney will decide whether to challenge the search by demanding that the court hold a hearing to determine the admissibility of the drugs. If a judge signs a warrant not supported by probable cause, the warrant is invalid and the fruits of any search must generally be suppressed. Albany: 229-430-7754 Trafficking methamphetamine can also have serious consequences and penalties. It doesnt protect you from what you may have done with that group in the past. A lock ( In entrapment, you basically have to show two things. 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. Look no further then Page Pate and Jess Johnson if you want the best trial lawyers to represent you! Well, if its this broad, you wonder, Are there any defenses to it? Because it is very broad under federal law. 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. 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. 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. We will continue to work diligently along with our local and federal partners to investigate and dismantle drug trafficking organizations.. 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. The State generally has the burden of convincing the court that the drugs were the product of a lawful search. Duffy admitted that he conspired with others to possess with intent to distribute between one and three kilograms of heroin, or enough heroin to provide more than 10,000-30,000 doses, from December 2018 to February 2019. 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. Due to the superb work of Page and Jess, the charges were dropped. 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. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. 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. charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine, Crack and Marijuana. 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. Will it apply in my case? Official websites use .govA .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. 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. It is also illegal to manufacture, deliver, distribute, sell, or possess with intent to distribute any controlled substance (with limited exceptions). We have successfully represented clients in serious criminal cases across the United States. Tawana Daniels, 40, of Fairburn, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine, Crack and Marijuana; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. They are dangerous and threaten the safety of our communities, said Vic Reynolds, Director of the GBI. 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. These dangerous drugs cause immeasurable damage to communities, but DEA and its law enforcement partners are committed to protecting these communities. The government does not have to show that a person actually sold drugs. When not actively working cases, I review cases to ISO 17025 and ANAB standards; repair and coordinate shipment of equipment to the downrange labs; review policies, guidance, and procedures . As a general matter, possession of less than 1 ounce of marijuana is a misdemeanor (O.C.G.A. Attorneys Joseph McCool. So there was no unlawful agreement. They had a medical practice, they were prescribing drugs, but it wasnt unlawful. Jackson pled guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute More Than 5 Grams of Methamphetamine, and Quantities of Marijuana and Cocaine. The government does not have to show that there is some sort of formal agreement, or contract, or anything like that. If you are convicted of 400 grams or more, you face a minimum prison sentence of 25 years and a $1,000,000 fine. 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. According to Georgia Code 16-13-31 and 16-13-31.1, the following is considered drug trafficking: However, the penalties vary depending on the type and quantity of the substance. | July 13, 2013. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. 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. Understanding whats going on, they say, Hey, I wanna be a part of this. Now thats it, just those two elements. And so, while he actually helped them commit the offense, he wasnt aware of the unlawful plan,. Domestic Cannabis Suppression / Eradication Program, Red Ribbon Toolkit - Resources For Your Community, DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, Intelligence Research Specialist Job Announcements, Schedule A Hiring Authority: Intelligence Research Specialist, Privacy Impact Assessment and Management Information Systems, Victim Witness Assistance Program Resources. 16-13-31(b). As a general rule, probable cause is determined by the totality of the circumstances. 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. First, the District Attorney can file a motion asking the sentencing court to reduce or suspend a sentence if the defendant provides substantial assistance in the identification, arrest, or conviction of any other individuals involved in the drug operation. The difference between drug trafficking and other drug crimes like drug possession, drug distribution or drug manufacturing is thequantityof drugs involved in the offense. A lock ( It will serve as a multi-jurisdictional drug enforcement agency controlled by Georgia Bureau of Investigation. 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.. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. So, even if an individual doesnt have drugs on them, they can still face drug crime charges. The Supreme Court has carved out an exception to the warrant requirement known as the automobile exception. Drug trafficking charges in Georgia are based on accusations that a person possesses, sells, distributes or produces a large number of illegal drugs. In fact, according to Georgia statutes, penalties for this crime include fines of up to one million dollars and jail time of up to 30 years. However, if you are convicted of trafficking between 4 and 14 grams of heroin, morphine, and opium, the sentence is five to thirty years in prison with an associated fine of $50,000. Have a question about Government Services? They kept on after the person. Columbus: 706-649-7700. 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. We represent clients in Atlanta and throughout the state of Georgia. Another high-profile case also involving Georgia took place in 2014. Operation Breaking the Bond is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. The charge carries upon conviction a penalty of up to life in prison. An individuals home receives greater protection under our Constitution than automobiles. Sometimes theyll say they had consent to search, the person agreed to it, but they really didnt. Columbus: 706-649-7700. Lock Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. A total of 76 defendants are named in a newly unsealed federal indictment describing a massive drug trafficking investigation tied to the Ghost Face Gangsters criminal street gang that includes allegations of multiple deaths from illegal drug overdoses. Official websites use .gov 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 Number one, the person was not predisposed at being involved in a drug conspiracy. Manufacture means the production, preparation, compounding, conversion, or processing of a controlled substance by extracting components of a substances natural origin or by chemical synthesis. 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. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. The Justice Department announced the arrest of more than 110 people on gun and drug charges in three states. A criminal defense lawyer may also challenge the lawfulness of the traffic stop itself. They tried to get me involved in this conspiracy. The entrapment defense is a very effective defense when its used the right way and by a lawyer who knows what he or she is doing. 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. Under Georgia law O.C.G.A. Similarly, these numbers will also go up for every amount over 2,000 pounds. The first obvious defense is that theres no unlawful agreement. Their dedication and complete commitment to their client is beyond reproach. Macon, Georgia 31202-1702, Macon: 478-752-3511 According to Georgia law, selling drugs or trafficking a controlled substance can result in expensive drug charges that require substantial assistance. These violent, gang-related drug dealers can no longer peddle poison in Vidalia, Ga., and the surrounding community, said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Atlanta Field Division. Each drug case has a unique set of facts, and whether the search that resulted in the drugs was lawful depends almost entirely on those facts. Great example of this defense is a case I tried here in Atlanta a couple of years ago. Punishment for possessing or distributing Schedule I drugs is the most severe. 16-13-31(a), Trafficking marijuana: O.C.G.A. The Department of Justice (DOJ) has indicted 76 defendants following a large-scale drug trafficking investigation in Georgia, according to a Wednesday press release. Read aboutour firms successin Georgia criminal cases. Anderson faces a maximum sentence of four years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. 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. But the government also has to show a second element that the person, the person being charged in this case, knows about the agreement and joins in the agreement. An official website of the United States government. 16-13-31(c), if a person possesses, grows, brings into the state more than 10 pounds of marijuana, it is considered trafficking. It is also possible for a search warrant to be valid but the resulting search to be nonetheless unlawful. On the way back from purchasing heroin from Duffy on February 20, 2019, Summerfords van was stopped and the heroin was seized. Also follow DEA Atlanta via Twitter at @DEAATLANTADiv. Duffy faces a maximum 20 years in prison to be followed by at least three years of supervised release and a $1,000,000 fine. But those are the basic elements and defenses involved in a federal drug conspiracy charge. 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. Or, in other words, either actual or constructive possession will be enough to establish the possession needed to support a drug trafficking charge. Possession of more than 1 ounce is a felony punishable by 1 to 10 years imprisonment. PATRICK JOHNSON, 27, of Chicago, is charged with one count of murder in aid of racketeering. 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) Its just this agreement, and then knowing about the agreement, saying, I wanna be a part of it. The person can drive a car and be part of a drug conspiracy. The wiretap investigation ultimately led to the discovery of Duffy being the source of heroin supply. In a press release from the department, on Jan . For this quantity of cocaine the minimum prison sentence is 15 . In many consent cases, an officer will exceed the scope of the drivers consent. 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. However, the quantity of marijuana being trafficked impacts the penalties, and even affects parole guidelines. Have a question about Government Services? 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. Antoine Riley, 44, of Warner Robins, is charged with one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, one count of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon, one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, one count of distribution of cocaine base, one count of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and one count of possession of cocaine base with intent to distribute; Antonio Raines, 37, of Warner Robins, is charged with one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, one count of distribution of cocaine base and one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute; Latanya Williams, 39, of Warner Robins, is charged with one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, one count of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and one count of possession of cocaine base with intent to distribute; Brittany Smith, 28, of Warner Robins, is charged with one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute; Emanuel Ivey, 35, of Warner Robins, is charged with one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and one count of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute; Armard Davis, 42, of Warner Robins, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute; Joseph Day, 48, of Warner Robins, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and one count of distribution of cocaine base; Desmond Griffin, 29, of Warner Robins, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and one count of distribution of cocaine base; and. Jan 17, 2023. A locked padlock There is no parole in the federal system. 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. Se Habla Espaol, 101 Marietta Street NWSuite 3300Atlanta, GA 30303(404) 223-3310, 2022 by The Church Law Firm LLC. They tried to sell me drugs. I didnt go after them. By Page Pate. 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. Contact The Waltman Firm to schedule a consultation today! Even when a driver consents to his vehicle being searched, it may be possible to challenge the lawfulness of the search. If a hearing is requested, the court will set the hearing down to be heard on a specific date. In some cases, the government will have a warrant, in some cases they wont. The punishment for a controlled substance offense depends on whether the drug was only possessed or if it was manufactured or distributed, type of substance, and the weight of the substance. All rights reserved. A person convicted of possessing a drug in Schedule III, IV, or V may be imprisoned for 1 to 5 years. The government stepped in and said, Youre prescribing too much medication. Some legal substances may also lead to a charge of drug trafficking if enough of the substance is found and suspected that it's being used in a way that is . Toombs County residents can take comfort in these two sentences, and many more to follow, that will keep this predatory gang off their streets.. The punishment for trafficking or distributing drugs in any of these schedules is 1 to 10 years imprisonment. Lawyer may also challenge the lawfulness of the circumstances of Duffy being the source of heroin supply,. An individual doesnt have drugs on them, they were prescribing drugs, but it unlawful. 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