georgia drug trafficking cases

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. 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. 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). 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. 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). You know, The government came after me. Similarly, these numbers will also go up for every amount over 2,000 pounds. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. 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. 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. Disclaimer|Sitemap, Page Pate explains what happens in a federal criminal case Attorney Page Pate explains what happe, The Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act (MDLEA) is a series of federal laws that allow the United, Accountability courts and pretrial diversion allow some people that have been charged with a fede, Earlier this week, a federal district court judge in Atlanta, Georgia sentenced our client to ti, Since the First Step Act of 2018 became law, thousands of federal inmates have been released earl, Investigators in at least one state have sought and received court authorization to wiretap commu. Georgia Drug Trafficking Charges O.C.G.A. 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.. . Many Georgia drug trafficking cases originate on the highways. 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. In 2014, the Ministry of Internal Affairs seized approx. All rights reserved. We will continue to work diligently along with our local and federal partners to investigate and dismantle drug trafficking organizations.. If a hearing is requested, the court will set the hearing down to be heard on a specific date. There are defenses, and there are several that we have used effectively in court when were representing someone charged in a drug conspiracy case. Obtaining legal advice regarding the most current illegal drugs law can potentially save you money and trouble. On Saturday, January 14, a Columbus officer attempted to initiate a traffic stop in the area of Beacon . 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 following were arrested: Grayling Coley, age 26, of Cordele, Georgia was charged with: Two counts of Trafficking Heroin Two counts of Trafficking Methamphetamine One count of Distribution of Heroin One count of Possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute One count of Possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute The entrapment defense. They will walk you through each legal process, demonstrating professionalism while being aggressive advocates for you. 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. Lock Its a different conspiracy, and so the jury has to find him not guilty. There are several factors involved. Toussaint is among seven defendants awaiting sentencing, while three defendants are awaiting trial. However, under O.C.G.A. The penalty for violating this statute depends on the type, the schedule the drug falls under, and amount of the drug. 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. For the first offense of Schedule I and Schedule II, which are considered the most dangerous drugs, you face between five and 30 years in prison, depending on the substance involved. On February 22, 2019, pursuant to a valid federal search warrant, law enforcement searched Duffys narcotics sales location at his Sandy Springs home. An official website of the United States government. 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. As a general rule, probable cause is determined by the totality of the circumstances. In a press release from the department, on Jan . Its a Schedule II drug, and 28 grams was chosen as the threshold that can result in grave consequences. Summerford was sentenced to serve 80 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on March 3, 2021; Courtney Dews, 36, of Macon, pleaded guilty to one count use of a communication facility to facilitate a drug trafficking offense. 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. Well, in that case the government may have shown that hes involved in drugs, but hes not a part of that conspiracy. There is no parole in the federal system. 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. 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). 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. PATRICK JOHNSON, 27, of Chicago, is charged with one count of murder in aid of racketeering. The Supreme Court has carved out an exception to the warrant requirement known as the automobile exception. 2022 by The Church Law Firm LLC. A criminal defense lawyer may also challenge the lawfulness of the traffic stop itself. A person convicted of possessing a drug in Schedule III, IV, or V may be imprisoned for 1 to 5 years. Macon, Georgia 31202-1702, Macon: 478-752-3511 Understanding whats going on, they say, Hey, I wanna be a part of this. Now thats it, just those two elements. Our firm has offices inAtlanta GA and Brunswick GA, and we frequently travel to other courts across the state to represent people in serious criminal cases. They dont have a history of it, theres not other evidence to show they were interested in finding out about the drug business. A Winsted, Connecticut, man pleaded guilty today to participating in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl over the darknet. A lock ( A West Liberty-are man sentenced to prison for drug trafficking was among the cases handled recently in Logan County Common Pleas Court. 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. For 14 to 28 grams, you can receive a sentence of ten years and a fine of $100,000. Individuals will face the possibility of federal prosecution when found trafficking large quantities of illegal drugs into the Middle District of Georgia., With the arrest of Duffy, the head of the snake was cut off of this major heroin pipeline that ran from Atlanta to Middle Georgia, said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. If convicted of trafficking in Georgia of 200 grams or more but less than 400 grams, then the punishment range increases. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. 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. So lets say they go to trial. Official websites use .gov Drug trafficking charges in Georgia are based on accusations that a person possesses, sells, distributes or produces a large number of illegal drugs. Our lawyers are licensed to practice in all state and federal courts in Georgia. Of all drug charges, trafficking is often considered the worst, a conviction of which carries significant prison time, parole, and huge fines. Two homes alleged to have been involved as locations for drug storage or distribution also are subject to forfeiture proceedings in the indictment. All rights reserved. All rights reserved. 16-13-30). Williams was in possession of approximately one ounce of methamphetamine and arrested. It will serve as a multi-jurisdictional drug enforcement agency controlled by Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The indictments come after a two-year-long investigation titled "Operation Ghost Busted," which looked into gang-related drug trafficking plaguing the Brunswick, . The heroine has probably the most unforgiving sentencing scheme. MACON, GA - Twelve defendants have been charged in a newly unsealed federal indictment alleging a middle Georgia drug trafficking conspiracy. The Albany Herald, Ga. Dec. 7MACON A career offender with a violent criminal history who participated in a middle Georgia drug trafficking network responsible for distributing approximately 16 kilograms of methamphetamine has been sentenced to serve 20 years in federal prison resulting from an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces investigation centered in Warner Robins. In some cases, the government will have a warrant, in some cases they wont. 16-13-30 left off. Secure .gov websites use HTTPSA lock ( So I thought it might be helpful to talk about the basics. 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. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Anyone charged with drug trafficking in Georgia will need a good criminal defense attorney to help navigate the process. For any offense after that, you can expect to receive between 10 and 40 years to life in prison. 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. 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. In most states, the case has to involve more than several pounds of marijuana or an ounce or more of harder drugs (like cocaine, methamphetamine, ecstasy, LSD, etc.) Also follow DEA Atlanta via Twitter at @DEAATLANTADiv. The Department of Justice (DOJ) has indicted 76 defendants following a large-scale drug trafficking investigation in Georgia, according to a Wednesday press release. Even when a driver consents to his vehicle being searched, it may be possible to challenge the lawfulness of the search. He was simply prescribing medicine for his patients, and he was acting within the legitimate medical practice and what his license allowed. 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. 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. 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. On the way back from purchasing heroin from Duffy on February 20, 2019, Summerfords van was stopped and the heroin was seized. 16-13-31). Now notice whats missing here. Want to know how we win appeals in Georgia criminal cases? 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. We will contact you as soon as possible if we are able to help. Help locate the three that are still wanted . A controlled substance is a drug, an immediate precursor or essential compound used to make a drug, or marijuana. 16-13-31(c), Trafficking methamphetamine: O.C.G.A. What is a drug conspiracy? Lock Punishment for possessing or distributing Schedule I drugs is the most severe. Again, a federal judge threw out those wiretaps and we were able to resolve the case. As with any important legal question, you should always consult aGeorgia criminal defense lawyerlicensed to practice in your jurisdiction. 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. Sometimes theyll say they had consent to search, the person agreed to it, but they really didnt. 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. A criminal defense lawyer will have the opportunity to cross-examine the arresting or searching officer, call any witnesses of his own, and tender evidence into the record for the courts consideration. Marshals Service, and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. This was a difficult case but due to the superb work of Page and Jess the charges were dropped. If the quantity is greater than 28 grams but less than 200 grams the person shall be sentenced to a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 10 years and pay a fine of $200,000. There is no requirement that the person actually has to handle any drugs. March 25, 2009 - Carrollton man and two truck drivers from San Antonio, TX arrested for trafficking in 740 pounds of marijuana. 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. So its lack of predisposition, and its that second thing, the government conduct. And E. Greg Gilluly Jr. 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. It is also possible for a search warrant to be valid but the resulting search to be nonetheless unlawful. Lock Somebodys house was searched, somebodys car was searched, a storage shed, a business. The government does not have to show that there is some sort of formal agreement, or contract, or anything like that. They didnt seal the recordings like they were supposed to. Pounds of marijuana Georgia drug trafficking in Georgia criminal cases to talk about the basics an... Alleged to have been charged in a newly unsealed federal indictment alleging middle! 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