Middle District of Georgia
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Member of Zohannon Criminal Organization Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Possessing MachinegunRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ga. – A Columbus resident and convicted felon who is a member of a local criminal street gang was sentenced to federal prison this week for illegal possession of a machinegun.
Tyquerrious Ford, 23, of Columbus, was sentenced to serve 60 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on May 3. Ford pleaded guilty to illegal possession of a machinegun on Dec. 20, 2022. Co-defendant, Bernard Shaw, 23, of Columbus, was sentenced to serve 60 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on April 13. Shaw pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon on Dec. 7, 2022. U.S. District Judge Clay Land handed down the sentences. There is no parole in the federal system.
“It is illegal for felons to possess firearms, let alone machineguns with extended magazines,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office and FBI are committed to bringing federal resources to bear in our close partnership with the Columbus Police Department and Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office.”
“The FBI and our law enforcement partners are determined to make our streets safer by removing violent felons—especially those in possession of high-capacity firearms—and holding them accountable with prison terms and no opportunity for parole,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta.
According to court documents, on April 24, 2022, Columbus Police Department (CPD) officers were on uniform patrol when they observed a vehicle driven by Ford traveling on Dawson St. in Columbus with multiple traffic violations. Ford did not immediately stop and when he did, he did not have a license and attempted to walk away from the officers and was detained. Shaw, who was a passenger, leaned against the door to prevent the officer from accessing the vehicle, then got out of the car and fled the scene. Officers found a loaded Glock Model 17 pistol with an extended 31-round magazine in the driver’s seat belonging to Ford. The firearm had been illegally modified with an automatic selector switch, also known as a “Glock switch,” allowing the operator of the firearm to continuously fire bullets with one pull of the trigger. In the passenger seat of the vehicle, there was a green bookbag containing a stolen Springfield XD semiautomatic pistol belonging to Shaw. Officers also found bags of marijuana, a scale and 100 small baggies.
On July 22, 2022, Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) deputies and FBI agents located Shaw seated inside a car in the parking lot of the AutoZone on Buena Vista Road in Columbus. He was quickly detained; officers found a loaded Del-Ton 5.56 semiautomatic rifle with two 30-round magazines taped together containing a total of 37 rounds in both magazines belonging to Shaw. Additionally, a brass catcher was mounted on the firearm. Shaw was arrested and his cell phone and rifle were seized. Shaw has prior convictions in Jefferson County Circuit Court, Louisville, Kentucky, to include theft by taking and fleeing police. Ford has prior convictions, including theft by receiving. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm. Both Ford and Shaw are confirmed members of Zohannon, a Columbus-based criminal street gang.
The case was investigated by FBI, CPD and MCSO.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Williams prosecuted the case for the government.
Georgia Man Sentenced to Prison for Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
ATHENS, Ga. – A Watkinsville, Georgia, man who was convicted by a federal jury for possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material was sentenced to serve more than eleven years in prison for his crime.
Eric Paul Krumm, 47, was sentenced to serve 134 months in prison to be followed by 25 years of supervised release and $18,000 in restitution to the victims by U.S. District Judge C. Ashley Royal on May 4. Krumm will have to register as a sex offender upon his release from federal prison. Krumm was found guilty by a federal jury on April 27, 2022, of two counts of distribution of child sexual abuse material and one count of possession of child sexual abuse material. There is no parole in the federal system.
“We will not stop pursing justice on behalf of children victimized by criminal online predators,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Creating, distributing, downloading and viewing child sexual assault material are heinous crimes that yield federal consequences.”
“The GBI will continue to work tirelessly to protect innocent victims. No child should be subject to online exploitation. As we work with our law enforcement agency partners and prosecutors, we are ensuring that predators like this defendant are held accountable,” said GBI Director Michael Register.
In 2016, Athens-Clarke County Police Department (ACCPD) began an investigation into downloads of suspected child sexual abuse material that returned to Krumm. Following that initial finding, ACCPD obtained 204 images and two videos of child sexual abuse material linking back to Krumm’s IP address. The child sexual abuse material depicted prepubescent girls and included sexual assault and molestation. A search warrant was executed by the GBI at Krumm’s residence on Feb. 15, 2017, and eleven electronics were seized, including laptops and hard drives. 56 images and one movie file found on Krumm’s electronics depicting child sexual abuse material were submitted to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) for comparison to the Child Recognition and Identification System (CRIS).
Krumm, a former systems administrator for a multinational corporation, downloaded and distributed child sexual abuse material via a peer-to-peer file sharing network. GBI investigators conducted an extensive forensic examination of Krumm’s electronics, which led to the discovery of the evidence of his distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The case was investigated by Athens-Clarke County Police Department and GBI, with assistance from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Solis prosecuted the case.
Remaining Defendants in Middle Georgia Armed Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – The leaders of an armed drug trafficking ring centered in Warner Robins, Georgia, were sentenced to federal prison this week for their crimes.
Antoine Riley aka “Bear,” 45, of Warner Robins, was sentenced as a career offender to serve 180 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release to run consecutively to any term of imprisonment imposed in a pending case in Taylor County Superior Court, after he previously pleaded guilty to distribution of cocaine base. Co-defendant Antonio Raines, 39, of Warner Robins, was sentenced to serve 97 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release, after he previously pleaded guilty to distribution of cocaine base. The sentences were handed down by Chief U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell on May 3. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Armed repeat felons will face federal consequences for their continued criminal activity,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Thanks to the efforts of the local, state and federal agencies with the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, another armed criminal group has been held accountable.”
“These career criminal drug traffickers posed a significant threat to the quality of life in our communities. The dismantling of this organization makes our communities a safer place today,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division.
The following codefendants have pleaded guilty and been sentenced:
- Brittany Smith, 29, of Warner Robins, was sentenced to serve 135 months in prison on Jan. 4, after previously pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine;
- Emanuel Ivey, 36, of Warner Robins, was sentenced to serve 87 months in prison on Feb. 9, after previously pleading guilty to distribution of cocaine base;
- Joseph Day, 49, of Warner Robins, was sentenced to serve 46 months in prison on Feb. 27, 2023, after previously pleading guilty to distribution of cocaine base;
- Desmond Griffin, 30, of Warner Robins, was sentenced to serve 24 months in prison on April 6, 2023, after previously pleading guilty to distribution of cocaine base;
- Obie Wright, 67, of Warner Robins, was sentenced to serve 18 months in prison on April 6, 2023, after previously pleading guilty to distribution of cocaine base; and
- Latanya Williams, 41, of Warner Robins, was sentenced to serve three years of probation on April 6, 2023, after previously pleading guilty to making false statements.
According to court records, federal agents began investigating Riley for distributing large quantities of crack cocaine out of several stash houses in the Warner Robins community; he was known to be armed. Recorded conversations and text messages between Riley and his codefendants revealed Riley and Raines as the leaders of the criminal operation. Several controlled purchases of cocaine were made, including a multi-kilogram transaction involving Riley while he was under surveillance. Riley was taken into custody on Feb. 12, 2021, by Bibb County Sheriff’s Office deputies after attempting to flee while in possession of a large amount of cocaine. A search warrant was executed that same day at Riley’s residence at McCall Circle in Warner Robins, and agents recovered a stolen Glock 9mm handgun, an extended Glock magazine, a .357 caliber revolver and a large quantity of cocaine. Riley told agents he was running another stash house on Vinson Drive in Warner Robins. Riley is being held accountable for at least 4.717 kilograms of cocaine, 45.68 grams of cocaine base and two firearms. Riley has a lengthy criminal history to include two prior convictions for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and obstruction of an officer.
Raines was named in a separate armed drug distribution and dog fighting investigation in the Middle District of Georgia; for more information about that case, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdga/pr/final-defendant-multi-state-dog-fighting-drug-conspiracy-case-pleads-guilty.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. 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. 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.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The case was investigated by the DEA, FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the United States Marshals Service, the Monroe County Sherriff’s Office, the Bibb County Sherriff’s Office and the Warner Robins Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Kalim prosecuted the case.
Final Defendant in Multi-State Dog Fighting, Drug Conspiracy Case Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – The 13th and final defendant involved in a multi-state dog fighting and drug distribution conspiracy based out of Middle Georgia pleaded guilty to his crimes on Friday.
Armard Davis aka “Black Jack,” 43, of Fort Valley, Georgia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and conspiracy to participate in an animal fighting venture before U.S. District Judge Tilman E. “Tripp” Self III on April 28. Davis faces a mandatory minimum of five years to a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison and a $5,000,000 fine for the drug conspiracy charge and a maximum sentence of five years and a $250,000 fine for the animal fighting conspiracy charge. Sentencing is scheduled for July 10.
“Shutting down this criminal organization, which was engaged in drug distribution and barbaric dog fighting, is the direct result of a lengthy and coordinated investigation involving many law enforcement agencies at the local, state and federal level,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Their combined efforts have made our communities safer.”
According to court documents, law enforcement investigated a criminal organization involved in both cocaine distribution and organized dog fighting based out of Roberta, Georgia, which extended into North Georgia, Florida and Alabama from May 2019 until February 2020. Davis was regularly communicating about all elements of dog fighting including its planning, scheduling and attending dog fights; the weight of dogs engaged in fights; the amount of money bet on dog fights, as well as sponsoring dogs in fights; and selling, breeding, training and transporting dogs for the purpose of fights. On Feb. 24, 2020, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Davis’s property at 407 Vienna Street in Fort Valley, Georgia, where agents found nine pit-bull type dogs. Many of the dogs had scarring and visible injuries such as broken legs and open bleeding wounds, all consistent with dog fighting. Agents also seized a hanging scale, medical supplies consistent with dog fighting and miscellaneous pedigrees. For more information about this case, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdga/pr/12th-defendant-sentenced-dog-fighting-drug-distribution-ring.
On Jan. 4, 2021, DEA agents learned that a drug transaction would be taking place between Davis and another person, at the direction of Antoine Riley, 46, of Butler, Georgia, a convicted defendant in a separate case who will be sentenced on May 3. The next day, agents observed Davis sell methamphetamine. Under surveillance, Davis was pulled over in Peach County, Georgia, and was arrested in possession of approximately 468 grams of suspected methamphetamine and $3,890 in cash. For information about the Riley case, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdga/pr/nine-federally-charged-arrested-middle-ga-drug-trafficking-investigation.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The dog-fighting and drug conspiracy case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Office of the Inspector General, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office, the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office, the Houston County Sheriff’s Office, the Merriweather County Sheriff’s Office, the Peach County Sheriff’s Office, the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, the Webster County Sheriff’s Office, the Byron Police Department and the Fort Valley Police Department. Deputy Criminal Chief Will Keyes with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia and Senior Trial Attorney Banu Rangarajan with the Department of Justice’s Environmental Crimes Section prosecuted the case.
The methamphetamine distribution case was investigated by the DEA, FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the United States Marshals Service, the Monroe County Sherriff’s Office, the Bibb County Sherriff’s Office and the Warner Robins Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Kalim is prosecuting the case.
U.S. Attorney Joins Law Enforcement, Stakeholders to Combat AntisemitismRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ga. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia, the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Civil Rights Division, the FBI, the Columbus Police Department (CPD) and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) joined with Temple Israel in Columbus to discuss the rise of antisemitism in the nation and ways for citizens to safely and effectively respond to and report antisemitic activity. The program was developed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, in part, due to antisemitic literature being distributed in Columbus neighborhoods in the recent past.
Hosted by Temple Israel on Sunday, April 30, U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary kicked off the three-hour program entitled, “Combating Antisemitism: A Legal Perspective.” He was joined by the Civil Rights Coordinators for the Middle District of Georgia, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lance Simon and Hannah Couch. Panel discussions were led by DOJ’s Civil Rights Division Deputy Chief Barbara Bosserman; FBI-Columbus Supervisory Special Resident Agent Richard Bilson; Columbus Police Department Lt. Jeff Bridges; ADL Southern Division Sr. Associate Director for Jewish Community Outreach Eric Ross; and ADL Center on Extremism Associate Investigative Researcher Katie McCarthy.
“It makes sense that this timely gathering of federal prosecutors, law enforcement and stakeholders to discuss the rise of antisemitism and how best to combat it as a community should occur at Temple Israel, one of the first Jewish congregations in Georgia,” said U.S. Attorney Peter Leary. “Antisemitism is a growing threat to both the safety of our Jewish citizens and the United States, undermining the very foundation upon which our nation was built. My hope is that more communities in the Middle District of Georgia will join in this discussion, as we work together to defeat hatred and the violence it creates.”
“Of all the forms of religious and ethnic hatred, anti-Semitism is one of the oldest and most persistent, and it is on the rise,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke. “The Justice Department continues to use all resources at its disposal to hold accountable people who engage in unlawful, bias-motivated acts of hate, including acts of anti-Semitism. In addition to our prosecutions of those who commit hate crimes against Jewish individuals and houses of worship, we are bringing together the Justice Department, local law enforcement and community leaders through our United Against Hate program, to strengthen our overall efforts to combat hate crimes and prevent hate incidents. Our communities, schools, workplaces and religious institutions are all safer when we stand unified in the fight against hate.”
“We feel privileged to host such a prestigious panel, the Jewish communities and its allies to discuss the realities of antisemitism and the dangers it poses to our city, state and the entire country,” said Terrie Potts, Temple Israel’s President. “It’s encouraging to see the extent to which law enforcement resources are being used to fight this and other forms of hate against all people.”
“Antisemitic incidents have reached an all-time high in this country, and Georgia is no exception. In this state, we saw a 63% increase in incidents from 2021 to 2022, and numbers that nearly quadrupled since 2020,” said Eytan Davidson, ADL Southeast Regional Director. “It’s incumbent upon us all to combat hate together, and the coming-together that we see at events like this is exactly what we all need to make the world a better, more inclusive and safer place.”
“The FBI is the lead investigative agency for criminal violations of federal civil rights statutes”, said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “We are proud to work closely with our partners throughout Georgia communities to combat antisemitism, even when federal charges are not able to be pursued. If you have been a victim of a hate crime, the FBI wants to help. Call 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov to report.”
“The Columbus Police Department appreciates any opportunity we have to meet with members of our community to discuss, teach and learn about concerns and issues. We commend Temple Israel’s leaders and congregates for their proactiveness in addressing the issues they’re experiencing in terms of antisemitism. We want to send a clear message that hate has no place in our community, and we will continue to do everything we can to help ensure citizens of all faiths and backgrounds have the peace, safety and security they deserve. This gathering and discussion is very much needed because it takes all of us to combat the issue of antisemitism and hatred in our community and the nation as a whole,” said Lt. Jeff Bridges with the Columbus Police Department.
More than 50 people were present for the panel discussions and dialogue, with speakers addressing many topics including the increase in antisemitic incidents, current examples of antisemitic extremism in the District and beyond, law enforcement’s response to such acts, suggested security measures and the Department’s record in prosecuting antisemitic hate crimes.
Citizens are urged to report antisemitic incidents to the local authorities first and then contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or tips.fbi.gov and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia at 478-752-3511.
For more information about hosting a training to combat hate crimes in your community, please contact Pam Lightsey, Law Enforcement Coordinator with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, at [email protected].
Valdosta Resident Sentenced to Prison for Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – A Valdosta, Georgia, resident was sentenced to federal prison this week for possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) of extremely young minors after an initial investigation into the defendant taking suspicious photos of a young woman at her workplace.
James Spencer Cochran, 50, of Valdosta, was sentenced to serve 78 months in prison to be followed by 15 years of supervised release and $4,500 in restitution to a victim by U.S. District Judge Hugh Lawson on April 26, after he previously pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child sexual abuse material on Sept. 20, 2022. In addition, Cochran will have to register as a sex offender for life upon his release from federal prison. There is no parole.
“A teenager reported that her privacy had been violated by a customer at her workplace; her call resulted in a child predator being held accountable for possessing child sexual abuse material of young children,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “I want to thank this concerned citizen for speaking up, and I am grateful that the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI swiftly launched an investigation which held this predator accountable.”
“This sentencing of Mr. Cochran removes from our community an individual who has demonstrated his willingness to exploit vulnerable children through child sexual abuse material,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI and our partners work every day to protect our children and will continue to use every law enforcement resource available to identify those who take advantage of our most innocent victims.”
“This is the second case this week involving child predators in our community that resulted in federal sentences without parole,” said Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk. “I am thankful for the strong partnership we have at the federal level to keep predators off the streets and away from our children.”
According to court documents, in May 2018, Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office deputies investigated a complaint from a young woman who stated that one of her customers, Cochran, was suspiciously taking photos of her with his cellular phone at the restaurant where she worked. Cochran was interviewed and consented to a search of his phone, where agents found photos of the woman, as well as multiple photos of fully clothed, prepubescent females and girls under the age of 12-years-old. Cochran admitted there were “some minors” and “a little nudity” on his personal computer at his home, and he consented to a search of his devices. A search warrant was executed, and Cochran’s electronic devices were seized. With the assistance of FBI’s Computer Analysis Response Team and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, agents identified 16 videos and 87 images containing child sexual abuse material, mostly of minors under the age of 12-years-old. Cochran told law enforcement that he would download, view and then delete the images before downloading more because he knew it was illegal.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The case was investigated by FBI and the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Hannah Couch prosecuted the case for the Government.
Tifton Bartender Sentenced to Prison for Distributing Fentanyl and MethRead the Press Release
ALBANY, Ga. – A Mexican citizen who was brokering large amounts of fentanyl and methamphetamine while working as a bartender in Tifton, Georgia, was sentenced to federal prison for his crime.
Edgar Fernando Neri aka Colocho, 22, of Guadalajara, Mexico, was sentenced to serve 87 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release by U.S. Senior District Judge Hugh Lawson on April 26, after he previously pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of methamphetamine. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Fentanyl is a poison infecting our communities and attracts other dangerous criminal activities, as seen in this case,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “We are working with law enforcement at every level to push back against the threat of fentanyl and the international criminal networks supporting its distribution.”
“A large amount of illegal drugs was taken off the streets of South Central Georgia. We will continue to dedicate resources to investigating drug activity to make our communities safer. Thank you to our federal partners for being a force multiplier when it comes to successfully investigating and prosecuting these types of cases,” said GBI Director Michael Register.
“This defendant posed a clear and present danger to the Tifton community by dealing in dangerous drugs, including discussions of firearms trafficking,” said Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division. “Thanks to collaborative partnerships between the DEA and its law enforcement partners, this defendant no longer poses a threat to Tifton and elsewhere.”
According to court documents, GBI agents developed a confidential source in late August 2021 who had information regarding the distribution of methamphetamine in Tifton (Tift County). The confidential source had been purchasing drugs from a local bartender known as "Colocho.” During the investigation, Neri discussed moving pounds of methamphetamine, multiple kilos of cocaine, as well as the purchase of body armor, rifles, a rocket launcher and rockets with his supplier in Los Angeles, California.
Multiple controlled purchases of methamphetamine were made from Neri, and Neri arranged for shipments of more methamphetamine and fentanyl pills from his L.A. source. Packages containing three pounds of methamphetamine and 1,990 blue fentanyl pills were sent from Neri’s source in L.A. to Tifton in Oct. 2021; Neri was taken into custody on Oct. 19, 2021. Neri is being held responsible for distributing 1,290.93 grams of actual methamphetamine based on the high level of purity of the methamphetamine involved and 1,990 pills containing fentanyl and weighing 205.92 grams.
The case was investigated by DEA, GBI and the Tift County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert D. McCullers prosecuted the case.
Former Valdosta Police and School Resource Officer Sentenced to 15+ Years in Prison for Producing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
VALDOSTA, Ga. – A former police and school resource officer who admitted to producing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) was sentenced to serve more than 15 years in prison for his crime.
Jonathan Eric Hancock, 32, of Hahira, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 190 months in prison to be followed by 12 years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge W. Louis Sands on April 26, after he previously pleaded guilty to one count of production of child sexual abuse material on Oct. 12, 2022. In addition, Hancock will have to register as a sex offender for life upon his release from federal prison. There is no parole.
“It is intolerable that an individual in a position of trust and with access to children would produce child sexual abuse material,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Law enforcement and school authorities moved quickly to ensure the protection of children and to help us hold the defendant accountable.”
The plea agreement in this case remains sealed for the protection of the minor victim.
Hancock worked as an officer for the Valdosta Police Department (VPD) from June 29, 2015 – August 2, 2019, and during this time served as a school resource officer at JL Lomax Elementary School in Valdosta. Hancock was also previously employed with the Homerville, Georgia, Police Department between Dec. 12, 2020 – March 19, 2021. Parents and guardians of children who might have encountered Hancock and have concerns related to this investigation can contact the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office at (229) 671-2950.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The case was investigated by the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office. Criminal Chief Leah McEwen prosecuted the case for the Government.
Columbus Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearms ChargeRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ga. – A Columbus man with an extensive criminal history pleaded guilty to illegally possessing two pistols he tossed into the backyard of a home while fleeing deputies on foot through a residential area of the city.
Raymond Richmond, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon before U.S. District Judge Clay Land on April 19. Richmond faces a maximum sentence of ten years in prison to be followed by at least three years of supervised release and a maximum $250,000 fine. Sentencing will occur within 90 days.
“The message is out that convicted felons caught with guns in Columbus will face federal charges, which carry stiff penalties,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Columbus citizens demand a safer city; any real solution to reducing violent crime will be found with the continued cooperation of all community members working to achieve this goal.”
“The message must be resoundingly clear for convicted felons in possession of firearms in Muscogee County: We will not accept this behavior at any level,” said Muscogee County Sheriff Greg Countryman. “They must know that we will pursue them and seek to fully prosecute their crimes. The Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office stands committed to staying the course to fight for safer neighborhoods.”
“Taking illegal guns off the streets help keep communities safe. We will continue to work with our partners to investigate these types of crimes,” said GBI Director Mike Register.
“This case is another reminder that ATF remains on the frontline of preventing violent crimes along with our law enforcement partners,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka. “We will not allow residents to suffer such criminal behavior, especially that which threatens the safety of innocent civilians and law enforcement officers.”
According to court documents, on Dec. 15, 2020, a deputy with the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO), was in routine patrol in Columbus and observed a car without a brake light and attempted to initiate a traffic stop. The vehicle continued at a low rate of speed for several blocks but failed to stop. Near the intersection of 17th Street and Preston Drive—a residential section of the city—the vehicle slowed down and Richmond exited the front passenger seat with a black book bag and took off running.
A brief foot chase ensued, during which Richmond tossed his book bag in the backyard of a residence. Richmond was apprehended in the yard and the bookbag was located next to him in the shrubs. Inside, deputies found a .40 caliber Glock pistol with 26 rounds of ammunition, a .380 Kel-Tec pistol with five rounds of ammunition, along with crack, cocaine, pills and marijuana.
At the time of this incident, Richmond was wanted on several outstanding warrants. He has several prior felony convictions in Muscogee County, Georgia, Superior Court, including obstruction of a law enforcement officer, interference with government property and theft by taking. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. 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. 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.
The case was investigated by the Muscogee Co. Sheriff’s Office, GBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Crawford Seals is prosecuting the case for the government.
Zohannon Gang Member Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Possessing Firearms in ColumbusRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ga. – A confirmed member of the Columbus-based Zohannon criminal street gang who is also a convicted felon was sentenced to serve federal prison time this week for illegally possessing two semiautomatic weapons, one was stolen and the other had two loaded magazines attached with a brass catcher—a device designed to capture spent bullets.
Bernard Shaw, 23, of Columbus, was sentenced to serve 60 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release by U.S. District Clay Land on April 13 after he pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon on Dec. 7, 2022. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Armed repeat criminals caught with guns in Columbus are facing federal prosecution—where the penalties include prison time without parole,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is acutely aware of the pressing violent crime problems plaguing the Columbus community; alongside our law enforcement partners, we are tirelessly working to prevent more shooting deaths and reduce violent crime.”
“Despite prior felony convictions, Shaw continued his criminal lifestyle” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This sentence sends the message that the FBI and our law enforcement partners are determined to make our streets safer by removing violent felons and holding them accountable with prison terms and no opportunity for parole.”
According to court documents, on April 24, 2022, Columbus Police Department (CPD) officers were on uniform patrol when they observed a vehicle traveling on Dawson St. in Columbus with multiple traffic violations. The driver, Tyquerrius Ford, did not immediately stop and when he did, he did not have a license and attempted to walk away from the officers and was detained. Shaw, who was a passenger, leaned against the door to prevent the officer from accessing the vehicle, then got out of the car and fled the scene. Officers found a loaded Glock Model 17 pistol with an extended 31-round magazine in the driver’s seat. The firearm had been illegally modified with an automatic selector switch, allowing the operator of the firearm to continuously fire bullets with one pull of the trigger. In the passenger seat of the vehicle, there was a green bookbag containing a stolen Springfield XD semiautomatic pistol belonging to Shaw. Officers also found bags of marijuana, a scale and 100 small baggies.
On July 22, 2022, Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) deputies and FBI agents located Shaw seated inside a car in the parking lot of the AutoZone on Buena Vista Road in Columbus. He was quickly detained; officers found a loaded Del-Ton 5.56 semiautomatic rifle with two 30-round magazines taped together containing a total of 37 rounds in both magazines belonging to Shaw. Additionally, a brass catcher was mounted on the firearm. Shaw was arrested and his cell phone and rifle were seized.
Shaw has prior convictions in Jefferson County Circuit Court, Louisville, Kentucky, to include theft by taking and fleeing police. Shaw is also a confirmed member of Zohannon, a Columbus-based criminal street gang. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm.
The case was investigated by FBI, CPD and MCSO.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Williams is prosecuting the case for the government.
Daycare CEO Sentenced to Prison, Ordered to Pay $1.3 Million Restitution for Check Kiting Scheme and Unpaid TaxesRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – The CEO of a Georgia-based daycare business was sentenced to prison and ordered to pay more than $1.3 million in restitution this week for conducting a check kiting and tax scheme.
Ilene Farley, 62, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 37 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $514,240.89 in restitution to Bank of America and $844,091.77 in restitution to the IRS by U.S. District Marc T. Treadwell on April 12 after she previously pleaded guilty to bank fraud and failure to pay over trust fund taxes on Nov. 16. 2022. There is no parole in the federal system.
“These type of criminal schemes—whether the harm is directed to individuals or businesses—will not be ignored by this office or our law enforcement partners,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “We will unravel the fraud and hold wrongdoers accountable for their crimes.”
“Ilene Farley believed she had found a shortcut to put money in her pocket, and now she will pay for her criminal behavior,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Today’s guilty plea reflects the FBI’s commitment to work with our partners to bring fraudsters who steal from banks to justice.”
“Employers have a lawful duty and responsibility to withhold income taxes from their employees’ payroll check; failure to do so negatively impacts the U.S. Government and the employees,” said James E. Dorsey, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “IRS-Criminal Investigation is committed to finding and holding those employers engaging in employment tax evasion accountable so that American taxpayers who are entitled can enjoy the benefits of Medicare and social security.”
According to court documents, Farley was the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Tender Years Learning Corporation (TYLC). TYLC operated several daycare centers within the Middle District of Georgia and elsewhere in the state of Georgia and had a registered office at 1010 N. Houston Road, Warner Robins, Georgia. Farley handled its financial affairs. The business had several bank accounts, including with Bank of America and Citizens Trust Bank.
When a customer presents a check for deposit into an account, it can take anywhere from 24 hours to seven days for the check to clear. The time between presentment and clearing of a check is called the “float.” The term “check kiting” refers to a form of check fraud which involves taking advantage of the float—the time between presentment of a check and the actual receipt of funds—to make use of non-existent funds in a checking or other bank account. The purpose of check kiting is to falsely inflate the balance of a checking account to allow written checks that would otherwise bounce to clear.
From April 2018 until July 2019, Farley executed a check kiting scheme using the TYLC bank accounts with Bank of America and Citizens Trust Bank, sending more than $75,000,000 to banks which were unfunded amounts and were the equivalent of obtaining money from banks without secured loans. All told, 19 checks bounced during the scheme in the amount of $2,202,162.41. Bank of America ended up with a loss of $514,240.89.
In addition, Farley was required to collect, account for and pay so-called “trust fund taxes” for TYLC’s employees, which includes Social Security, Medicare and federal income taxes. Employers are required to remit these withheld trust fund taxes to the IRS on a quarterly basis. Between 2015 and 2019, Farley failed to pay the IRS $844,091.77 of the TYLC employees’ trust fund taxes which had been withheld from the employees’ paychecks. Through her guilty plea, Farley admitted that she knowingly carried out a scheme to defraud Bank of America and Citizens Trust Bank; in addition, she admitted that she did not pay her employee trust fund taxes.
The case was investigated by FBI and IRS.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Howard prosecuted the case for the government.
SWGA Man Guilty of Drug Distribution Resulting from Investigation into Methamphetamine Trafficking in Cordele, GeorgiaRead the Press Release
ALBANY, Ga. – A Cordele, Georgia, resident with prior serious felony drug convictions pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine resulting from an investigation into drug trafficking in the community.
Alexis Sylvester Holton, 43, of Cordele, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of methamphetamine on April 11 before U.S. District Judge Leslie Abrams Gardner. Holton faces a minimum of five years to a maximum of 40 years in prison to be followed by at least four years of supervised release and a $5,000,000 fine. Sentencing has not yet been scheduled.
“The GBI and Crisp County Sheriff’s Office continue their tireless efforts to prevent the lethal spread of some of the most deadly and addictive drugs in Southwest Georgia,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is working with our law enforcement partners at every level to bring federal charges against the flagrant repeat offenders whose crimes damage our communities.”
“This investigation has resulted in the disruption of a significant methamphetamine supply to the Cordele area. We are grateful for our partnership with the other investigative agencies and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for seeing this case through successfully,” said GBI Director Mike Register.
According to court documents and other public information, Holton sold a total of 279.51 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant (CI) working with GBI and Crisp County Sheriff’s Office investigators during nine exchanges, beginning in Oct. 2021, until his arrest on Feb. 9, 2022, in Cordele. Holton has several prior convictions, including two prior serious felony drug convictions in the Superior Court of Crisp County, Georgia.
This case was investigated by GBI, DEA and the Crisp County Sheriff’s Office.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Redavid.
Jury Convicts Felon for Illegally Possessing a Firearm Brandished at Wal-Mart CustomersRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. –A Macon resident with a lengthy criminal history who carried a gun into a Macon Wal-Mart and waved it aggressively at customers was convicted by a federal jury for illegally possessing a firearm.
Selma Oliver-Smith, 45, of Macon, was convicted on April 11 of illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon following a two-day trial that began on April 10 before U.S. District Judge Tilman E. “Tripp” Self III. Oliver-Smith faces a maximum of ten years in prison, to be followed by at least three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine for illegally possessing a firearm. Sentencing is scheduled for July 11.
“Not only is it illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm anytime and anywhere, Mr. Oliver-Smith chose to walk into a neighborhood store and wave a gun at customers. Thankfully, no shots were fired, and no one was hurt,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Our office will prosecute convicted felons caught illegally with firearms, especially those who brandish them in public places.”
“When offenders such as this use firearms to threaten individuals, ATF takes this very seriously,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka. “ATF remains on the frontline of preventing violent crime along with our law enforcement partners and will continue to pursue those who violate the law.”
“Selma Oliver-Smith’s arrest and conviction shows that the justice system will not tolerate dangerous career criminals using a firearm to menace innocent shoppers in a busy Walmart,” said Bibb County Sheriff David Davis.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Bibb County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a call from the Wal-Mart on Harrison Rd. in Macon on Aug. 17, 2021, about a man aggressively waving a gun at people who approached him inside the store. Because of Oliver-Smith’s criminal record, he was known to officers, and he was located thereafter at a nearby motel. Oliver-Smith was found inside his hotel room, where officers found two firearms hidden inside the toilet bowl tank. One of the firearms, a Jennings Firearms Bryco .380, looked identical to the one in the photo provided by Wal-Mart. Oliver-Smith has a lengthy criminal history to include convictions for burglary, theft by taking and second-degree criminal damage. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. 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. 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.
The case was investigated by the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean S. Deitrick and Sonja Profit are prosecuting the case for the Government.
U.S. Attorney Leary Announces New Leadership Team MembersRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – Three Assistant U.S. Attorneys have been promoted to leadership positions within the Middle District of Georgia, completing the executive team assembled under U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Bowen Reichert Shoemaker is the new Civil Division Chief, making her the first female non-interim Civil Division Chief in the Office’s history; Assistant U.S. Attorney Will Keyes is now the Deputy Criminal Chief; and Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth “Beth” Howard is the new Senior Litigation Counsel (SLC) for the Criminal Division. These three attorneys join First Assistant U.S. Attorney Shanelle Booker, Criminal Chief Leah McEwen, Columbus Branch Chief Amy Helmick, Appellate Chief Mikki Schieber, and Civil Division SLC Lance Simon to comprise the legal leadership in the office. The team includes many historic firsts for the Middle District of Georgia, including FAUSA Booker who is the first black woman and first female to hold the highest non-appointed position in the office; SLC Simon who is the first openly LGBTQ+ person to command a leadership role in the District; and the greatest number of women attorneys to hold leadership positions.
“It is crucial to assemble a team of top-tier and diverse attorneys to pursue vigorous justice on behalf of the citizens now and in the years to come,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Alongside the many dedicated and skilled attorneys and staff in the office, these dynamic leaders will help to ensure a strong future of equal justice for all in the Middle District of Georgia.”
Civil Division Chief Bowen Reichert Shoemaker joined the U.S. Attorney’s office in 2018. Since then, she has specialized in high-exposure tort claims and cases brought under the False Claims Act on behalf of the citizens. Prior to joining the office, Civil Chief Shoemaker was a trial attorney for an Atlanta law firm handling multi-district litigation and complex commercial cases. Born and raised in Georgia, she graduated magna cum laude from both the Mercer University School of Law and the University of Georgia, and clerked for the Honorable Hugh Lawson, U.S. District Judge. Civil Chief Shoemaker is highly involved in the Macon community, and currently serves on the board of trustees for Historic Macon, Macon Arts Alliance, Stratford Academy and is a member of the Macon Rotary Club. She has also served as an adjunct professor at Mercer Law. In 2021, she was named a “40 Under 40” by the UGA Alumni Association in 2021.
Deputy Criminal Chief Will Keyes joined the office in 2018. He has prosecuted a broad range of federal criminal cases, to include drug trafficking organizations, violent crime and offenses related to terrorism. He has served as the Project Safe Neighborhood Coordinator, National Security Cyber Specialist, District Election Officer and Deputy Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council. Before joining the office, he was on active duty in the U.S. Army prosecuting members of Al-Qaeda in military commissions in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. From 2016-2017 he deployed to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, in support of Operation Inherent Resolve where he served as legal advisor to a battalion of over 800 soldiers operating throughout Kuwait and Iraq. He began his career at a law firm in Atlanta and holds four degrees from the University of Georgia, which include his law degree, a master’s degree and two undergraduate degrees. In addition to his duties with the office, he serves in the U.S. Army Reserves, Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command as a judge advocate. Recently, he became qualified as a paratrooper upon graduation from the U.S. Army Airborne School.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth “Beth” Howard is the new Senior Litigation Counsel (SLC) for the Criminal Division. SLC Howard joined the office as a criminal prosecutor in 2014, and she has prosecuted a broad range of crimes, to include complex white collar fraud and public corruption, child exploitation, human trafficking, violent crime, and wiretap prosecutions. Among other duties, she currently serves as the office’s Financial Fraud Coordinator, and she previously coordinated the office’s law clerk program. Prior to joining our office, SLC Howard worked as an Assistant Solicitor General in Macon, focusing on domestic violence prosecutions. She earned both her undergraduate and law degrees from Mercer University; while in law school, she twice worked as a law clerk for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Middle District. Born and raised in Florida, SLC Howard has resided in the Middle District of Georgia for 18 years.
The Middle District of Georgia encompasses 70 of Georgia’s 159 counties, and includes Albany, Athens, Columbus, Macon and Valdosta with a population of approximately 2,045,000 people. The office is responsible for prosecuting federal crimes in the District, including crimes related to terrorism, public corruption, child exploitation, fraud, firearms, illegal gangs and narcotics. The office also defends the United States in civil cases and collects debts owed to the United States.
Georgia Men Convicted in Separate Project Safe Childhood Cases for Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – A former U.S. Airman and a repeat child sex offender both admitted to possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) involving minor victims in separate Project Safe Childhood cases in the Middle District of Georgia this week.
Kenneth Queen, 35, of Forsyth, Georgia, and formerly of Dayton, Tennessee, pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of child sexual abuse material and one count of failure to register as a sex offender today before U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell. Queen faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for each count of possession of CSAM, a maximum sentence of ten years in prison for failing to register as a sex offender and a maximum lifetime of supervised release. Queen will also have to register as a sex offender for life upon his release from prison. Sentencing for Queen is scheduled for July 13, 2023.
Justin Wayne Pallett, 29, of Warner Robins, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 210 months in prison to be followed by a lifetime on supervised release by U.S. District Judge Tilman E. “Tripp” Self III on April 4, after he previously pleaded guilty to possession of child sexual abuse material. Pallett will have to register as a sex offender for life upon his release from federal prison. There is no parole for federal convictions.
“Our office will work tirelessly to protect children from child predators,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Through Project Safe Childhood, our office has a team of prosecutors working with law enforcement from every level dedicated to protecting our most vulnerable citizens from child victimization.”
According to public records, Queen was convicted of sexual battery against a child under 16 and child molestation in Madison County, Georgia, Superior Court on Oct. 27, 2008. Queen was required to register as a sex offender for life. After his conviction, Queen relocated to Tennessee, where he registered as a sex offender. Queen was residing in Monroe County, Georgia, in the summer of 2020 when it was reported to authorities that he was unlawfully tattooing children. Queen was found in possession of graphic child sexual abuse material he captured involving a young child. Queen was required to be registered as a sex offender at the time, but had not registered himself in Monroe County as the law required him to do. For the protection of the minor victim, a portion of Queen’s plea agreement will remain sealed.
According to Pallett’s plea agreement, the mother of a 13-year-old girl reported to law enforcement in November 2020 that her daughter had exchanged sexually explicit Snapchat and Facebook messages and images with a 26-year-old male. The male was later identified as Pallett, who was an active duty service member assigned to Robins Air Force Base. A search warrant executed on Pallett’s Snapchat account revealed he was engaged in similar sexually explicit communication with numerous underage girls. Agents found 178 images and six videos of child sexual abuse material on Pallett’s electronic devices—a cell phone, tablet, laptop and PC—including 14 images found within the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) database.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The Queen case was investigated by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joy Odom is prosecuting the case.
The Pallett case was investigated by the U.S. Air Force, Office of Special Investigations. Deputy Criminal Chief Will Keyes prosecuted the Pallett case.
Middle Georgia Meth Trafficking Leader Sentenced to 35 Years ImprisonmentRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – The leader of an armed drug trafficking organization responsible for distributing approximately 16 kilograms of methamphetamine into Middle Georgia was sentenced to 35 years in prison.
Ontarrio Veal aka “Torrie,” 33, of Warner Robins, was sentenced to serve 420 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Tilman E. “Tripp” Self, III on April 4, after he previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Nov. 15, 2022. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Ontarrio Veal brazenly ran an armed criminal organization that pushed a significant amount of methamphetamine into Warner Robins and surrounding communities,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “He is now held to account through the hard work of our prosecutors, working alongside our Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force partners.”
“This investigation deals a fatal blow to a once-thriving ‘meth’ ring,” said Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “With the leader now behind bars for a long time, the citizens of Warner Robins and elsewhere can rest assured that their communities are much safer today thanks to the outstanding case work by DEA and our local law enforcement partners.”
“ATF considers the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force a critical partner in its long-term mission of removing armed gangs, criminals and narcotics traffickers from our communities,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Atlanta Field Division.
“The Warner Robins Police Department is honored to have worked in conjunction with our federal partners through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force which resulted in the outcome of this case,” said Assistant Chief Wayne Fisher, Warner Robins Police Department. “It is through such local, state and federal partnerships that impacts such as these can be realized. It was with great work and effort from the men and women of this task force which resulted in these arrests that will have an immeasurable impact for the good of our shared communities.”
According to documents and other evidence admitted into court, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents and Warner Robins Police Department officers investigated Veal’s Warner Robins-based drug trafficking organization from Jan. to June 2020. Law enforcement obtained court orders to intercept the phone calls and text messages from Veal’s and co-defendant Tamara Hall’s cell phones. Agents learned that Veal was a multi-kilogram methamphetamine dealer and surveilled Veal and various co-defendants conducting methamphetamine transactions and traveling to Atlanta to purchase large quantities of methamphetamine.
Veal was taken into custody in June 2020, on a return trip from Atlanta in possession of three kilograms of methamphetamine and a Glock .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol with a 50-round drum magazine. Agents executed search warrants at various locations in Middle Georgia, seizing multiple firearms and ammunition, methamphetamine and more than $100,000 cash. The organization is responsible for distributing more than 16 kilograms of methamphetamine.
Nine additional co-defendants have pleaded guilty and/or been sentenced as a result of this case:
Matthew Kay, 36, of Warner Robins, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Sept. 6, 2022, and was sentenced to serve 235 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release to run consecutively to three sentences he is currently serving in Houston County, Georgia, on Jan. 19.;
Reginald Lowe, 41, of Warner Robins, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Aug. 30, 2022, and was sentenced to serve 240 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release to run consecutively to a state sentence he is currently serving in Houston County, Georgia, for an aggravated assault conviction on Dec. 6, 2022;
Milton Simmons aka Mann, 41, of Macon, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Aug. 1, 2022, and was sentenced to serve 120 months on Jan. 10;
Donna Ussery, 31, of Warner Robins, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on April 19, 2022, and was sentenced to serve 100 months in prison on Oct. 4, 2022;
Parsa Ervin, 45, of Warner Robins, pleaded guilty to two counts of use of a communication facility to conspire to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Aug. 30, 2022, and was sentenced to serve 57 months in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release to run consecutively to any term of imprisonment that may be imposed in three separate cases in Houston County on Jan. 19.;
Marquell Gaines aka Paris, 38, of Warner Robins, pleaded guilty to use of a communication facility to conspire to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on July 19, 2022, and was sentenced to serve 48 months in prison on Oct. 11, 2022;
Tamara Hall, 40, of Warner Robins, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on April 19, 2022, and sentencing is scheduled for May 2;
Victor Mendoza, 34, of Warner Robins, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to drugs on Dec. 1, 2022, via a global plea agreement in the Southern District of Alabama and sentencing is scheduled for June 2; and
Eddie Linkhorn, 42, of Warner Robins, pleaded guilty to two counts of use of a communication facility to conspire to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Oct. 20, 2022, and sentencing is scheduled for June 6.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
This case was investigated by Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Warner Robins Police Department.
The case was prosecuted by Deputy Criminal Chief Will Keyes.
Moultrie Man Sentenced to Prison for Armed Drug Trafficking Following High-Speed Chase in Crisp CountyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, Ga. – A Southwest Georgia man was sentenced to serve 20 years in prison after he was arrested following a high-speed chase while carrying a semi-automatic Glock, ammunition, cash and drugs a month after he was released from federal custody.
Terry Allen Harris, Jr., aka “TJ,” 38, of Moultrie, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 240 months in prison to be followed by eight years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Leslie Abrams Gardner on March 30, after he previously pleaded guilty to one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. There is no parole in the federal system.
“The defendant is rightly being held to account for his proven disregard for the law and willingness to put others in danger,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Armed repeat felons will face federal prosecution in the Middle District of Georgia, resulting in prison time without parole.”
“Repeat offenders putting the lives of innocent bystanders at risk will not be tolerated. We are committed to working with our law enforcement partners to bring these criminals to justice,” GBI Director Mike Register.
According to court documents, Harris led Crisp County Sheriff’s Office deputies on a high-speed chase on June 24, 2020, after deputies attempted to pull him over for driving 19 miles over the posted speed limit on I-75. Harris exited the interstate, increasing his speed to over 100 miles per hour in a 45 mile-per-hour zone, driving on the wrong side of the road and other dangerous maneuvers before ultimately crashing his vehicle into a birdbath and a tree on a residential property.
Officers found a Glock 19 semi-automatic pistol at Harris’ feet, 59 rounds of ammunition, three extra magazines and $11,821 in cash, plus seven bags of suspected marijuana, grinders, ledgers, a digital scale and a quantity of methamphetamine and LSD. Harris has multiple prior serious felonies, including a prior conviction for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Harris had been released from federal prison on May 20, 2020, a little more than a month before this incident.
The case was investigated by the Crisp County Sheriff’s Office, Mid-South Narcotics Task Force and GBI.
The case was prosecuted by Criminal Chief Leah McEwen.
SWGA Man Sentenced to Prison Resulting from Armed Drug Trafficking InvestigationRead the Press Release
ALBANY, Ga. – A Southwest Georgia resident with a criminal record who admitted to distributing heroin resulting from an armed drug trafficking investigation was sentenced to prison for his crime.
Alexander Brown, Sr. aka “Poochie,” 48, of Albany, was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Leslie Abrams Gardner on March 30, after he previously pleaded guilty to distribution of heroin. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Armed repeat offenders remain a high priority for our office and our law enforcement partners,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “I appreciate the hard work and cooperation that resulted in this conviction and sentencing.”
“The combination of drugs and guns is destructive in so many ways to our communities,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Our agents focus daily on getting repeat offenders like Brown off our streets. The FBI and the partners we work with are committed to stopping these destructive drug operations flowing through our state.”
“Illegal drugs and guns are dangerous and threaten the safety of Georgia communities. The GBI is committed to working with our partners to investigative drug and gun dealing. Thank you to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for prosecuting this defendant, making the Albany area safer,” said GBI Director Mike Register.
According to his plea agreement and court records, the GBI began investigating Brown in Jan. 2021 for distributing heroin; multiple recorded purchases of narcotics from Brown occurred during the course of the investigation. On Sept. 15, 2021, an undercover agent went to Brown’s apartment on Maryland Drive in Albany. Brown offered to get the agent fully automatic AR-15 rifles, which he described as ghost guns without serial numbers. Brown also sold the agent heroin. On Oct. 14, 2021, GBI and FBI agents purchased a rifle from Brown at a residence on Askew Drive in Dawson, Georgia. A search warrant of the Askew Drive residence was executed on Nov. 2, 2021. Agents recovered heroin, methamphetamine and fentanyl, in addition to drug distribution paraphernalia and $12,000. Brown has a criminal history with convictions in Dougherty County, Georgia, Superior Court, including a conviction for possession with intent to distribute oxycodone.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by GBI and FBI.
Criminal Chief Leah McEwen prosecuted the case for the Government.
Methamphetamine Supplier to South Georgia Sentenced to 25 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
ALBANY, Ga. – A Tifton, Georgia, resident identified as the lead supplier to an 18-defendant armed drug trafficking ring responsible for distributing between 1.5 and 4.5 kilograms of methamphetamine into the community was sentenced to prison for his crime resulting from an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation.
Rafon Carithers, aka “Tweed,” 34, was sentenced to serve 310 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release on March 30, after he previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on May 19, 2022. In addition, two co-defendants were sentenced to prison this week: McKevor Mulkey aka “Chevy,” 32, of Tifton, was sentenced to serve 190 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release on March 29, after he previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on April 19, 2022; and Damarius Williams, 26, of Tifton, was sentenced to serve 25 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on March 30, after he pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on Oct. 18, 2022. U.S. District Judge Louis Sands handed down the sentences. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Nearly a dozen law enforcement agencies had a hand in helping shut down a significant methamphetamine supplier and his distributors pushing this highly addictive drug into the Tifton community,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “This case illustrates law enforcement’s relentless dedication to holding organized criminal groups accountable for their unlawful dealings and from causing further harm in our region.”
“The lengthy sentences handed down to these defendants send a clear message that drug dealing in our communities will not be tolerated. Georgians deserve to work, live and play in a safe environment. We will never stop protecting our neighborhoods from dangerous and illegal drugs,” said GBI Director Michael Register.
“We removed more methamphetamine traffickers from the streets,” said Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “These offenders can no longer distribute this dangerous drug as they now face serious time behind bars for both their drug crimes and violent criminal conduct. This investigation was a success because of the great working relationship between DEA and its law enforcement partners.”
“There is no initiative more critical to ATF than increasing the safety of our communities. Cases which result in the arrests and prosecution of armed drug traffickers are fundamental to continuing this initiative while simultaneously showing criminals that ATF and its law enforcement partners will not falter in this mission,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka. “We will pursue violent drug traffickers such as these wherever they may operate, and they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Our fight against drug traffickers and this armed trafficking ring is yet another step in stemming the flow of meth into Tifton and Tift County. With the help of our community and our law enforcement allies, we will continue to make this a safer place to work and live,” said Tift County Sheriff Gene Scarbrough.
“It’s great to have these defendants, the drugs and the firearms off the streets of Tifton. We are appreciative of the coordination between agencies involved in this investigation,” said Tifton Police Department Chief Steve Hyman. “Their work in this case makes a difference in the lives of our citizens who fall victim to drugs in our community.”
The following co-defendants have pleaded guilty and been sentenced:
Tevin Parker, aka “Tay,” 28, of Tifton, pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine on July 26, 2022, and was sentenced to serve 262 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release on Nov. 3, 2022;
Juanjava Boggerty, aka “Jay,” 49, of Tifton, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Oct. 12, 2022, and was sentenced to serve 235 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release on Feb. 2;
Courtney Taylor, 39, of Tifton, pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on Oct. 4, 2022, and was sentenced to serve 235 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release on Jan. 25.;
Rishaun Richardson, 26, of Tifton, pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on Aug. 23, 2022, and was sentenced to serve 170 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on March 16;
Brian Foster, aka “Joe,” aka “FOS,” 30, of Tifton, pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on Sept. 27, 2022, and was sentenced to serve 136 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release on Dec. 30, 2022;
Bradrick Boston aka “Big Baby,” 34, of Tifton, pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine on July 20, 2022, and was sentenced to serve 108 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release on Nov. 3, 2022;
Clenton Davis, 33, of Ashburn, Georgia, pleaded guilty to managing drug premises on Aug. 2, 2022, and was sentenced to serve 96 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on Nov. 20, 2022;
Darrell Mack, 33, of Tifton, pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine on Oct. 13, 2022, and was sentenced to serve 78 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release on Feb. 2;
Keyuntran Taylor, 23, of Ashburn, pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on Oct. 5, 2022, and was sentenced to serve 70 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release on Jan. 26.;
Dmya Norris, 25, of Tifton, pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on Oct. 5, 2022, and was sentenced to serve 60 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release on Jan. 26.;
Dante Hille, 29, of Ashburn, pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine on June 14, 2022, and was sentenced to serve 51 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on Sept. 15, 2022;
Vontesha Dixon, 32, of Tifton, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Oct. 4, 2022, and was sentenced to serve 36 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on Jan. 19.;
Keilaysha Dixon, 23, of Tifton, pleaded guilty to use of a communication facility in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on Sept. 22, 2022, and was sentenced to serve 30 months in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release on Dec. 30, 2022; and
Jala Taylor, 24, of Tifton, pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine on Oct. 11, 2022, and was sentenced to serve 24 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on Jan. 27.
The following co-defendant has pleaded guilty in this case and is awaiting sentencing:
Jehmeil Carmichael, 35, of Tifton, pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and faces a maximum sentence of 20 years of imprisonment to be followed by at least three years of supervised release and a $1,000,000 fine. His sentencing is scheduled for May 4.
According to court documents, in May 2019, GBI agents began an investigation into a drug trafficking organization operating in the Tifton area. As part of their investigation, agents utilized a confidential informant (CI) to make controlled buys of drugs from other defendants, including Mulkey and Tevin Parker. Between Sept. 5, 2019, and Oct. 25, 2019, agents made six controlled buys of methamphetamine from Mulkey and a controlled buy from Parker; the substance was a mixture of fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine. During the course of the wiretap investigation, agents discovered Carithers was supplying the drugs to Parker. On July 9, 2020, agents conducted numerous residential search warrants as part of their investigation into this drug trafficking organization. Agents recovered two .45 caliber pistols belonging to Carithers and numerous bags of methamphetamine mixed with other substances. Carithers is being held accountable for distributing between 1.5 kilograms and 4.5 kilograms of methamphetamine.
More information about this case can be found at https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdga/pr/defendants-connected-southwest-georgia-armed-drug-trafficking-ring-sentenced-prison and https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdga/pr/45-count-indictment-unsealed-charging-18-individuals-drug-gun-crimes.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The case was investigated by DEA, ATF, GBI, Mid-South Narcotics Task Force, Tifton Police Department, Tift County Sheriff’s Office, Turner County Sheriff’s Office, Crisp County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia Department of Corrections, Georgia State Patrol and Georgia Department of Community Supervision.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Melody Ellis and Criminal Chief Leah McEwen.
Georgia Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Possession of Meth with Intent to Distribute After Ordering Fabric Soaked in MethRead the Press Release
ALBANY, Ga. – A Southwest Georgia man guilty of drug distribution was sentenced to 240 months in prison today after federal agents discovered fabric soaked in methamphetamine and crystal meth in packages at the Atlanta airport addressed to him from Mexico.
Chad Williamson, 44, of Fitzgerald, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 240 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Leslie Abrams Gardner today after he pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on Sept. 8. There is no parole in the federal system.
“International drug cartels are using any means necessary to move deadly substances into this country, feeding addiction and increasing overdose deaths,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Law enforcement at every level is committed to stopping and holding accountable those working with these groups to bring highly dangerous and illegal drugs into our communities.”
“DEA and its law enforcement partners will continue to use every available resource to dismantle, disrupt and destroy drug distribution networks,” said the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division Robert J. Murphy. “This case was successful because of the collaborative efforts between DEA and its committed law enforcement partners.”
According to court documents, two packages containing methamphetamine and addressed to Williamson were intercepted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Parcel Center in March 2021. The packages were shipped from Naucalpan de Juarez, Mexico, and marked as religious image and/or Bible gift; one of the boxes contained a methamphetamine-soaked fabric, which can be chemically extracted for use. There was also approximately 450 grams of crystal methamphetamine in the packages.
DEA agents went to Williamson’s residence on March 11, 2021. Williamson had removed the SIM card from his phone in an attempt to hide its contents. Williamson’s probation officer administered a drug test, which Williamson failed. Williamson was placed under arrest and subsequently admitted to agents that an associate used Williamson’s address for drug deliveries. The SIM card was located, and a download of Williamson’s phone showed a number of messages he had exchanged with the source of supply, saved in his phone as “Costa Chris.” The messages revealed an on-going relationship between the two regarding illicit controlled substance deliveries requiring tracking and other drug deals.
The case was investigated DEA with assistance from HSI.
Criminal Chief Leah McEwen prosecuted the case.
West Georgia Man, Under Investigation for Allegations of Drugging Women, Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing 26 FirearmsRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ga. – A Talbot County, Georgia, resident who was under investigation for allegedly drugging women admitted to illegally possessing numerous firearms in federal court today.
David Gibson, 59, of Talbotton, Georgia, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person today before U.S. District Judge Clay Land. Gibson faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for June 14.
According to court documents and other evidence presented in court, as part of a larger investigation—including into allegations that Gibson was drugging women—FBI conducted a lawful search of his residence in Talbot County on Nov. 17, 2022. Agents seized 26 firearms, which consisted of a mix of pistols, shotguns and rifles. The weapons include, but are not limited to, a .45 colt/.410 caliber revolver called “The Judge,” a 9mm semi-automatic pistol, a .22 caliber semi-automatic pistol and a semi-automatic rifle. Gibson admits he is an unlawful user of illegal drugs, making him a prohibited person.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. 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. 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.
The case was investigated by the FBI, DEA, Meriwether County Sheriff’s Office, Harris County Sheriff’s Office and Talbot County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Williams is prosecuting the case for the Government.
Athens, Georgia, Pain Medicine Owner, Practice Manager Agree to $5 Million Settlement Resolving Violations Under the False Claims ActRead the Press Release
ATHENS, Ga. –A $5,000,000 civil settlement has been reached with Mark A. Ellis, M.D., and his practice, Ellis Pain Center (EPC), a pain management practice in the Athens area. Part of the civil settlement includes EPC’s practice manager, Patsy Allen.
The case that was resolved by this settlement agreement—U.S. v. Mark A. Ellis, M.D., Patsy Allen, Mark A. Ellis, M.D., P.C., and Ellis Practice Management, LLC, 3:19-cv-107—was filed on Nov. 27, 2019. The settlement was finalized on Friday, March 17, 2023.
The defendants agreed to pay $5,000,000 to the United States to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act (FCA) by submitting bills to the Medicare program for urine drug tests that were not performed, urine drug tests that were not medically necessary and for diagnostic tests that were not medically necessary for the treatment of its pain patients. The settlement resolves a civil investigation initiated by the Northern District of Georgia in the throes of the opioid epidemic. In 2015, the Middle District of Georgia joined the investigation and the two offices worked together to bring about today’s announced resolution.
“Together with our colleagues at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia, our attorneys have successfully concluded years of hard-fought litigation on behalf of the citizens,” U.S. Attorney Peter Dr. Leary. “This office will continue to relentlessly pursue allegations of false billing for services not actually rendered to patients, particularly where opioids are involved.”
“We will not allow health care providers to engage in schemes designed to enrich themselves and deplete the funds intended for the government’s federal health care programs,” said Ryan K. Buchanan, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia. “Our partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia resulted in a just resolution on behalf of the Medicare Program and the taxpayers.”
“Providers that bill Medicare for medically unnecessary procedures waste taxpayer dollars while drawing down on funds intended to support critical services for vulnerable patients,” stated Tamala Miles, Special Agent in Charge with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “With our law enforcement partners, HHS-OIG is committed to investigating potentially fraudulent billing that can compromise the integrity of our federal health care programs.”
The FCA is a federal law that imposes civil liability on any persons or entities who submit, or cause to be submitted, false claims for payment on the federal government or its contractors. The liability that can be imposed under the statute is treble damages (that is, three times the loss caused by the false claims) and a civil penalty between $12,537 to $25,076 per false claim. The FCA is the primary authority used by the United States Attorney’s Office’s Civil Division to redress fraud, waste, and abuse within federal programs, including, but not limited to, Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE.
The United States alleges that Dr. Ellis, Patsy Allen and EPC billed Medicare for individual and expensive quantitative urine drug tests that it did not actually conduct and, in fact, could not have conducted on its immunoassay analyzer. Additionally, Dr. Ellis, Ms. Allen and EPC allegedly billed Medicare for the same urine drug tests and diagnostic tests on its patients without regard to the patients’ individual signs, symptoms and medical needs and simply in a desire to increase EPC’s revenue.
The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination or admission of liability.
This case was investigated by Special Agent Michael Britton and Investigator Shaketia Morgan of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-Office of the Inspector General (HHS OIG).
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Todd P. Swanson and Bowen Shoemaker of the Middle District of Georgia and Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeli Ben-David for the Northern District of Georgia represented the United States in civil action and settlement agreement.
Fugitive Wanted in Alleged Athens Armed Fentanyl Trafficking RingRead the Press Release
ATHENS, Ga. – Federal agents are searching for an Athens man charged in a 28-count, ten-defendant indictment alleging an armed fentanyl trafficking ring responsible for distributing multiple kilograms of fentanyl into the Athens-Clarke County community.
Christopher King, 34, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. If convicted, King faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison and a $10,000,000 fine. Anyone with information regarding King’s whereabouts are urged to contact the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), Macon, Georgia, office at 478-870-1017 or you can submit a tip anonymously by calling 1-877-WANTED-2.
King and nine co-defendants are facing federal drug and gun charges after a federal grand jury returned a 28-count indictment on Oct. 11, 2022; the indictment was unsealed on Dec. 22, 2022. According to the indictment, all of the defendants allegedly conspired to distribute more than one kilogram of heroin and more than 400 grams of fentanyl between Feb. 2021 and Sept. 2022. Additionally, defendants James Hill, Jasmine Jackson, Jose Camacho and Kristopher Ellison are charged with conspiring to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and more than 500 grams of cocaine. The indictment alleges fentanyl and other drug trafficking occurred at various locations in northeast Georgia, mostly in Athens: an apartment at 120 Chateau Terrace, the Fairfield Inn and Suites and the Howard Johnson’s Motel in Athens, and 3073 Hardman Morris Road in Colbert (Madison County), Georgia.
During the course of the investigation, agents seized more than 3.6 kilograms of fentanyl, over one kilogram of heroin, more than 500 grams of cocaine and 313 grams of methamphetamine. Additionally, 21 firearms were seized, including three machine guns, sixteen pistols, one AK-47 rifle and one shotgun. Hundreds of rounds of ammunition and $116,567 in drug proceeds were also seized.
The following eight co-defendants are charged in the indictment with King; they’ve had their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Charles H. Weigle and were remanded to federal custody:
James Jerome Hill aka “Keith,” 40, of Athens, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl, one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, one count of maintaining a drug involved premises and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon;
Lanel Chambers aka “LC” aka “Lanel Rankin,” 44, of Lilburn, Georgia, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl;
Jose Camacho, 22, of Colbert, Georgia, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl, one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, one count of illegal possession of a machine gun and one count of maintaining a drug involved premises;
Michael Arnold, 50, of Athens, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl;
Kristopher Ellison aka “Soldier,” 32, of Athens, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl, one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon;
Antonio Young, 38, of Athens, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl;
Hendrex Nicely aka “Hen,” 34, of Athens, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; and
Favian Curry aka “Favo,” 41, of Athens, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl, two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and two counts of maintaining a drug involved premises.
The following defendant is charged, had her initial appearance before the Honorable Judge Weigle and was released on bond:
Jasmine Jackson, 28, of Athens, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl, one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl and one count of maintaining a drug involved premises.
Each defendant faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison up to a maximum sentence of life in prison and a $10,000,000 fine.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S. Marshal Service (USMS), FBI Athens Middle Georgia Safe Streets Gang Task Force, Northeast Georgia Regional Drug Task Force, Athens-Clarke County Police Department (ACCPD), Clarke County Sheriff’s Office, Greene County Sheriff’s Office, Gwinnett County Police Narcotics Unit the Georgia State Patrol (GSP).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Morrison is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary Takes Oath of Office at Community Investiture CeremonyRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary took the oath of office at a community-attended formal investiture ceremony at the William Augustus Bootle Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Macon this afternoon.
Approximately 150 community members, law enforcement, judges and civic leaders attended today’s investiture ceremony honoring U.S. Attorney Leary, who was officially sworn-in to serve as the presidentially-appointed and U.S. Senate-confirmed U.S. Attorney on Dec. 12, 2022. Today’s investiture is a traditional ceremonial event, which included participation from Mr. Leary’s family, colleagues, members of the Court, as well as faith-based and civic groups.
“I am humbled and grateful for this opportunity to serve the people of Middle Georgia,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “There is much work to be done to curb violent crime and ensure equal justice for all. Our office commits wholeheartedly to these goals with our law enforcement and community partners.”
The investiture ceremony, which began at 2:30 p.m. today inside Courtroom One, was opened by Chief U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell and included an introduction of the judicial officers present representing the U.S. District Court, U.S. Magistrate Court and U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the Middle District of Georgia: Judge Leslie Abrams Gardner, Judge Tilman E. “Tripp” Self III, Senior Judge Hugh Lawson, Judge Charles H. Weigle, Chief Judge Austin E. Carter, and Judge James P. Smith.
The Reverend Arthur W. Villarreal of the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta gave the invocation. Mr. Leary’s daughter, Fiona Leary, and Sophie Leigh of the Girl Scouts of America, Historic Georgia Council, Troop 60043, and Carter Sparks of the Boy Scouts of America, Central Georgia Council, Troop 10, presented the colors. Mr. Leary’s daughter, Bea Leary, led the Pledge of Allegiance, and his son, Declan Leary, performed a violin rendition of The National Anthem.
Ryan K.J. Dickey, Senior Counsel with the Department of Justice, and Brian P. Adams, an attorney with the Adams Law Firm, gave remarks. The Honorable Hugh Lawson administered the oath of office to Mr. Leary while his wife, Bridget Leary, held the family’s bible. Their son, William Bere Leary, read an excerpt from Berger v. United States.
For more information about Mr. Leary, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdga/meet-us-attorney.
Middle Georgia Man with Prior Voluntary Manslaughter Conviction Sentenced to Prison on Gun ChargeRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – A Macon resident who was previously convicted and sentenced to ten years imprisonment for voluntary manslaughter was sentenced to federal prison after he was caught trying to sell a firearm and ammunition in the community.
Jeffery Maurice Willis, 45, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 33 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell on March 7 after he previously pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. There is no parole in the federal system.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is holding individuals with prior violent felonies accountable at the federal level when they are caught with firearms,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Working with law enforcement, we are using every resource available to protect our communities from the threat of firearms in the hands of criminals.”
“ATF will continue to dedicate federal resources in conjunction with crucial federal and local law enforcement partners to the pursuit of eradicating and forestalling criminal activity in the communities we serve,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka.
“This case is an example of how a felony conviction for a violent crime as a young adult will carry federal consequences when that individual chooses to illegally take up a firearm later in life,” said Bibb County Sheriff David Davis.
According to facts entered in court, ATF agents conducted several controlled buys of firearms and ammunitions in May 2021 as part of a larger investigation into gun trafficking and drug distribution in Macon and the surrounding areas. ATF agents observed and recorded Willis sell a .44 revolver and five rounds of ammunition in Macon on May 6, 2021. Willis was previously convicted of voluntary manslaughter in the Superior Court of Bibb County, Georgia, in 1997. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm.
This case is the result of Operation United Front, an ongoing ATF-led investigation into illegal gun possession and drug distribution in Middle Georgia utilizing the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN).
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. 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. 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.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Will Keyes prosecuted the case.
Valdosta Resident with Prior Aggravated Assault, Robbery Convictions Sentenced for Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
ALBANY, Ga. – A Valdosta, Georgia, resident with a prior felony conviction for aggravated assault and robbery by intimidation was sentenced to prison after officers took him into custody in illegal possession of a loaded firearm during a domestic violence call.
Sammie Eubanks, 28, was sentenced to serve 57 months in prison to run concurrently to any sentenced imposed by the Superior Court of Lanier County, Georgia, for probation violation to be followed by three years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Louis Sands on March 3 after he previously pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm.
“Armed felons with violent criminal backgrounds who illegally possess guns will face federal prosecution,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “I want to thank the Valdosta Police Department and FBI for helping us hold repeat felons caught illegally possessing firearms accountable at the federal level.”
“Eubanks, with a prior felony conviction for aggravated assault and robbery by intimidation, clearly did not learn from his past mistakes and continued to intimidate people in our community,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI is proud to work with our local law enforcement partners in helping to convict these repeat offenders at the federal level, where they face stiffer penalties and no opportunity for parole.”
According to information relayed in court, on Aug. 31, 2019, Valdosta Police Department officers responded to a report of domestic violence on North Sawgrass Circle. The officers located Eubanks, who was at first uncooperative. Eubanks then told officers he did not assault his girlfriend, but that they had an argument. Eubanks attempted to flee, and he removed a firearm he was carrying and threw it on the ground. Eubanks was restrained and officers recovered the loaded .22 caliber pistol. Eubanks was previously convicted of felony robbery by intimidation and aggravated assault in the Superior Court of Lanier County, Georgia, on Dec. 12, 2012. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. 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. 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.
The case was investigated by FBI and the Valdosta Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Hannah Couch prosecuted the case.
U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary Announces Implementation of New Voluntary Self-Disclosure PolicyRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – United States Attorney Peter D. Leary announced that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia has implemented the new United States Attorney’s Offices’ Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy released this week.
The policy, which is effective immediately, details the circumstances under which a company will be considered to have made a voluntary self-disclosure (VSD) of misconduct to a United States Attorney’s Office (USAO), and provides transparency and predictability to companies and the defense bar concerning the concrete benefits and potential outcomes in cases where companies voluntarily self-disclose misconduct, fully cooperate and timely and appropriately remediate.
The goal of the policy is to standardize how VSDs are defined and credited by USAOs nationwide, and to incentivize companies to maintain effective compliance programs capable of identifying misconduct, to expeditiously and voluntarily disclose and remediate misconduct, and to cooperate fully with the government in corporate criminal investigations. The policy was developed pursuant to the Deputy Attorney General’s September 15, 2022, memorandum, “Further Revisions to Corporate Criminal Enforcement Policies Following Discussions with Corporate Crime Advisory Group” (Monaco Memo), which directed each Department of Justice (DOJ) component that prosecutes corporate crime to review its policies on corporate voluntary self-disclosure and, if there was no formal written policy to incentivize self-disclosure, draft and publicly share such a policy.
Under the new VSD policy, a company is considered to have made a VSD if it becomes aware of misconduct by employees or agents before that misconduct is publicly reported or otherwise known to the DOJ, and discloses all relevant facts known to the company about the misconduct to a USAO in a timely fashion prior to an imminent threat of disclosure or government investigation. A company that voluntarily self-discloses as defined in the policy and fully meets the other requirements of the policy, by—in the absence of any aggravating factor—fully cooperating and timely and appropriately remediating the criminal conduct (including agreeing to pay all disgorgement, forfeiture, and restitution resulting from the misconduct), will receive significant benefits, including that the USAO will not seek a guilty plea; may choose not to impose any criminal penalty, and in any event will not impose a criminal penalty that is greater than 50% below the low end of the United States Sentencing Guidelines (USSG) fine range; and will not seek the imposition of an independent compliance monitor if the company demonstrates that it has implemented and tested an effective compliance program.
The policy identifies three aggravating factors that may warrant a USAO seeking a guilty plea even if the other requirements of the VSD policy are met: (1) if the misconduct poses a grave threat to national security, public health, or the environment; (2) if the misconduct is deeply pervasive throughout the company; or (3) if the misconduct involved current executive management of the company. The presence of an aggravating factor does not necessarily mean that a guilty plea will be required; instead, the USAO will assess the relevant facts and circumstances to determine the appropriate resolution. If a guilty plea is ultimately required, the company will still receive the other benefits under the VSD policy, including that the USAO will recommend a criminal penalty of at least a 50% and up to a 75% reduction off the low end of the USSG fine range, and that the USAO will not require the appointment of a monitor if the company has implemented and tested an effective compliance program.
In cases where a company is being jointly prosecuted by a USAO and another DOJ component, or where the misconduct reported by the company falls within the scope of conduct covered by VSD policies administered by other DOJ components, the USAO will coordinate with, or, if necessary, obtain approval from, the DOJ component responsible for the VSD policy specific to the reported misconduct when considering a potential resolution. Consistent with relevant provisions of the Justice Manual and as allowable under alternate VSD policies, the USAO may choose to apply any provision of an alternate VSD policy in addition to, or in place of, any provision of its policy.
The Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC), under the leadership of United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams, requested that the White Collar Fraud Subcommittee of the AGAC, under the leadership of United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Breon Peace, develop policies in response to the Deputy AG’s memo. The policy announced today was prepared by a Corporate Criminal Enforcement Policy Working Group comprised of U.S. Attorneys from geographically diverse districts, including U.S. Attorney Peace, as well as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Jessica Aber, U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut Vanessa Avery, U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawaii Clare Connors, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina Michael F. Easley, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California Stephanie Hinds, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia Christopher Kavanaugh, and U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Philip Sellinger. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Riedel, White Collar Crimes Coordinator for the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys, also participated in the development of the policy.
Georgia Man Sentenced to 60 Years in Prison for Producing Child Sexual Assault MaterialRead the Press Release
ALBANY, Ga. – A south Georgia resident who admitted to producing child sexual assault material (CSAM) involving minor victims was sentenced to the statutory maximum prison term for his crimes.
Jonathan G. Hardin, 38, of Enigma, Georgia, was sentenced to serve a total of 720 months in prison (360 months for each count) by U.S. District Judge Louis Sands on March 2, after he pleaded guilty to two counts of production of child sexual assault material. In addition, Hardin will have to register as a sex offender for life upon his release from federal prison. There is no parole.
“Producing child sexual assault material is a heinous offense and will be punished to the fullest extent of the law,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “To that end, our office will pursue the maximum punishment allowed under law for those caught producing child sexual assault material.”
“Finding, arresting and prosecuting the predators that are creating, viewing and sharing these disturbing images of abuse is one of the most important things we can do to protect the children in our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Katrina W. Berger, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in Georgia and Alabama. “Working together with our great law enforcement and community partners makes the fight to hold accountable those who exploit our children easier and more impactful.”
The plea agreement in this case remains sealed for the protection of the minor victims.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office.
Criminal Chief Leah McEwen prosecuted the case.
Leader of Multi-Kilo Meth Distribution Ring Pleads Guilty, 16 Co-Defendants Admit Guilt Resulting from OCDETF InvestigationRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – Multiple defendants connected to a methamphetamine trafficking ring centered in Milledgeville, Georgia, that was responsible for distributing a total of five kilograms of methamphetamine pleaded guilty to their crimes recently resulting from an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation.
Jarvis Havior aka “J Bo,” 31, of Milledgeville, pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on Feb. 16 before U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell. Havior faces a minimum of ten years in prison to a maximum of life imprisonment to be followed by at least five years of supervised release and a $10,000,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for May 3.
“Through the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force, law enforcement agents coordinated a successful take-down of a drug trafficking network pushing high volumes of methamphetamine into the Milledgeville area,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Local, state and federal law enforcement are helping us hold those distributing large quantities of the most deadly and addictive illegal drugs accountable at the federal level.”
“Those who distribute methamphetamine pose a grave danger to the community. These traffickers can no longer deliver dangerous drugs on the streets and must now face the consequences of their actions,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division.
“The dangers associated with meth remain one of the most significant drug threats facing our community,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “With the help of our federal, state and local partners, this is a significant amount of poison that will not make it into our communities, driving crime and violence.”
“Illegal drugs are dangerous and threaten the safety of Georgia communities. The GBI is committed to getting these drugs off the streets by bringing to justice all those that take part in the illegal drug trade, from the supplier down to the dealer,” said GBI Director Mike Register.
According to court documents, agents with DEA, GBI and the Ocmulgee Drug Task Force (OCDETF) received credible information in June 2020 from multiple confidential sources that Havior was leading a multi-kilogram methamphetamine distribution ring operating in the Milledgeville community. A subsequent investigation determined the location of distribution “trap” houses and “stash” houses for bulk narcotics and cash that Havior and his criminal associates maintained.
On April 5, 2021, agents determined that Havior was going to replenish his methamphetamine supply at a location in Stone Mountain, Georgia, where he had previously traveled to for suspected drug re-supply runs. Agents observed Havior meet a man at a Publix parking lot in Stone Mountain and receive a fully laden green Publix bag. Havior traveled to a restaurant in Covington, Georgia, and gave the bag to co-defendant Anrico Taylor. Both defendants departed the restaurant in their respective vehicles and traffic stops were conducted on them in Baldwin County, Georgia. Taylor attempted to flee with the Publix bag, ripping apart several smaller bags of methamphetamine as he ran from officers, amounting to approximately one kilogram of methamphetamine spread on the ground. In total, four kilograms of methamphetamine was found inside the green Publix bag. In all, the drug trafficking ring is responsible for distributing at least five kilograms of methamphetamine.
The following co-defendants entered guilty pleas and will be sentenced at a later date:
- Dawn Carey, 47, of Milledgeville, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and faces a maximum of life in prison;
- Nicholas Cuevas-Flores, 37, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and faces a maximum of life in prison;
- Bruce Harrison, 39, of Milledgeville, pleaded guilty to one count possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and faces a maximum of life in prison;
- Paul Collins, 59, of Milledgeville, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and faces a maximum of 20 years in prison;
- Arturo Marshall aka Turo, 41, of Milledgeville, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and faces a maximum of 20 years in prison;
- Annie Collins, 21, of Milledgeville, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and faces a maximum of 20 years in prison;
- Tyrone Hitchcock aka T Y, 48, of Milledgeville, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and faces a maximum of 20 years in prison;
- Alicia Nugent, 38, of Milledgeville, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and faces a maximum of 20 years in prison;
- Anrico Taylor aka Rico, 34, of Milledgeville, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and faces a maximum of 20 years in prison;
- Amber Vanclief, 32, of Milledgeville, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and faces a maximum of 20 years in prison;
- Matthew Cameron, 47, of Milledgeville, pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and faces a maximum of ten years in prison;
- Paris Binion, 30, of Milledgeville, pleaded guilty to one count of the unlawful use of a communications facility and faces a maximum of four years in prison;
- Lamont Jackson, 48, of Milledgeville, pleaded guilty to one count of the unlawful use of a communications facility and faces a maximum of four years in prison;
- Perry Miller, 27, of Milledgeville, pleaded guilty to the unlawful use of a communications facility and faces a maximum of four years in prison;
- Macarthur Reeves aka Mac, 67, of Milledgeville, pleaded guilty to the unlawful use of a communications facility and faces a maximum of four years in prison; and
- Ryan Rickard, 49, of Milledgeville, pleaded guilty to one count of the unlawful use of a communications facility and faces a maximum of four years in prison.
The following co-defendants remain at large and are charged with the following crimes:
- Dwight Turner aka “Wight,” 57, of Milledgeville, is charged with one count conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and two counts distribution of methamphetamine and faces a maximum of life in prison;
- Paul Bentley aka “Old School,” 56, of Milledgeville, is charged with one count conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and faces a maximum of life in prison; and
- Noe Canela, 34, of Lilburn, Georgia, is charged with one count conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and faces a maximum of life in prison.
An indictment is merely an accusation of a crime; any and all defendants remain innocent unless proven guilty by a court of law.
Individuals with information regarding the whereabouts of Turner, Canela and Bentley can contact the FBI’s Atlanta Field Office at (770) 216-3000 or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
This case is being investigated by DEA, FBI, GBI, Ocmulgee Drug Task Force, Baldwin County Sherriff’s Office, Laurens County Sheriff’s Office, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia Department of Corrections, Milledgeville Community Supervision Office, Wilkinson County Sheriff’s Office, Jones County Sheriff’s Office, Atlanta-Carolina’s HIDTA Office and Gwinnett Metro Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Kalim is prosecuting the case.
16 Defendants Charged in 112-Count Indictment Alleging Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft in Stolen Mail SchemeRead the Press Release
ALBANY, Ga. – Sixteen individuals are facing federal bank fraud and aggravated identity theft charges alleging their participation in a stolen mail scheme in and around the Americus, Georgia, community and Florida amounting to more than $165,000.
The federal indictment was returned on Feb. 15 charging the following defendants:
Jalen Tylee Hill aka “Roscoe Hill,” 24, of Americus, is charged with 68 counts of bank fraud, one count of fraud in connection with identification documents, 42 counts of aggravated identity theft and one count of conspiracy to possess stolen mail. On each count if convicted, Hill faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine for bank fraud, a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for fraud in connection with identification documents, two years in prison and a $250,000 fine for aggravated identity theft and a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 for possession of stolen mail;
Tyavia Deashia Richardson, 21, of Edison, Georgia, is charged with three counts of bank fraud. If convicted, Richardson faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine per count;
Quontavius Markee Hill, 31, of Americus, is charged with six counts of bank fraud. If convicted, Hill faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine per count;
Laquashia Nichole French, 25, of Americus, is charged with six counts of bank fraud. If convicted, French faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine per count;
Accacia Gordon, 25, of Americus, is charged with 13 counts of bank fraud. If convicted, Gordon faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine per count;
Dekeyvia Moasha Blackshear, 22, of Leslie, Georgia, is charged with two counts of bank fraud. If convicted, Blackshear faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine per count;
Jenetta Small, 27, of Columbus, Georgia, is charged with four counts of bank fraud. If convicted, Small faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine per count;
Jazmon Lace Whitehead, 29, of Oglethorpe, Georgia, is charged with seven counts of bank fraud. If convicted, Whitehead faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine per count;
Chasity Lacole Wellons, 28, of Cordele, Georgia is charged with three counts of bank fraud. If convicted, Wellons faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine per count;
Kelbresha Danielle Thomas, 28, of Montezuma, Georgia, is charged with four counts of bank fraud. If convicted, Thomas faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine per count;
Kimbreyanna Andranique Peeples, 21, of Butler, Georgia, is charged with two counts of bank fraud. If convicted, Peeples faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine per count;
Victoria Carter, 23, of Americus, is charged with one count of bank fraud. If convicted, Carter faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine;
Chelsea Ja’Nay Tullis, 26, of Americus, is charged with one count of bank fraud. If convicted, Tullis faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine;
Janita Bre’Shaye Terry, 22, of Columbus, is charged with four counts of bank fraud. If convicted, Terry faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine per count;
Shaneria Sharae Murray, 31, of Ellaville, Georgia, is charged with two counts of bank fraud. If convicted, Murray faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine per count; and
Mercedes Lashon Brown, 24, of Americus, is charged with three counts of bank fraud. If convicted, Brown faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine per count.
Defendant Jalen “Roscoe” Hill remains at-large; the remaining defendants were taken into custody on Feb. 23. Those defendants had initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas Q. Langstaff on Feb. 23. Quontavius Hill was ordered detained today, Feb. 28. Individuals with information regarding Jalen “Roscoe” Hill’s whereabouts can contact the FBI’s Atlanta Field Office at (770) 216-3000 or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.
According to the indictment, Jalen Hill and others would allegedly steal checks out of residential and commercial mailboxes around Americus, as well as other locations in Georgia and Florida. Jalen Hill is alleged to have recruited his co-defendants via social media to cash the checks at various banks and used other people’s means of identification to commit bank fraud on 14 occasions. In addition, Jalen Hill is alleged to have used the stolen identities of 28 people. The total amount of theft alleged in the indictment is $165,743.68.
The case is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the FBI, the U.S Secret Service (USSS) and the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Redavid is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Five-Time Convicted Felon Found Guilty of Drug Trafficking and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ga. – A Columbus resident with a violent criminal history was convicted by a federal jury on charges related to armed methamphetamine trafficking.
Karzarta Piett, 41, was convicted on Feb. 14 of possession of more than five grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon following a two-day trial that began on Feb. 13 before U.S. District Judge Clay Land. Piett faces a maximum of 40 years in prison to be followed by at least four years of supervised release and a maximum fine of $5,000,000 for distribution of methamphetamine and a maximum of ten years in prison to be followed by at least three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine for illegally possessing a firearm.
“Violent re-offenders engaged in armed drug trafficking will face federal prosecution,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Local, state and federal law enforcement agencies are committed to stopping violent, repeat offenders in our district and holding them accountable for their crimes.”
“This meth dealer brazenly continued his drug trafficking activities despite being a five-time convicted felon,” said the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division Robert J. Murphy. “His conviction removes yet another dangerous criminal from our streets and sends a clear message to others who may choose to follow the same perilous path. DEA and its law enforcement partners will relentlessly pursue criminals like Mr. Piett.”
“This case exemplifies our commitment to prevent drugs and criminal activity from poisoning our communities,” stated ATF Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka. “It also sends a clear message that we will relentlessly pursue and prosecute members of these drug enterprises.”
“One of our main goals is to protect our community from violent offenders like Karzarta Piett, who was engaged in reckless and destructive offenses. Piett will face the consequences of his actions because of the hard work of our Columbus Police Department Investigators and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. We are grateful for the critical support of our law enforcement partners, without whom this conviction would not have been possible. This investigation demonstrates our continued commitment to removing violent criminals and drug traffickers from our streets,” said Columbus Police Department Chief Freddie D. Blackmon, Columbus Police Department
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Piett was pulled over by Columbus Police Department (CPD) officers for multiple traffic violations on Jan. 7, 2021, after he was observed leaving a bar known for its drug trafficking activity. Piett was driving with a suspended license. Officers observed drug residue in the car; a K-9 unit was requested and a drug detection canine alerted to the presence of narcotics. A search of the defendant’s vehicle based on probable cause recovered two ounces of methamphetamine, a loaded pistol, a digital scale, plastic bags and approximately $1500 cash in the center console, plus more than $2,000 cash in Piett’s pocket. A check of the defendant’s criminal background revealed a lengthy criminal history spanning 20 years, with five prior felony convictions including two separate convictions for aggravated assault and convictions for kidnapping, false imprisonment, robbery, terroristic threats and multiple drug distribution charges.
Following Piett’s June sentencing in the Middle District of Georgia, he will be transferred to the Middle District of Alabama where he is currently under indictment for conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. 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. 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.
The case was investigated by DEA, ATF and the Columbus Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Crawford Seals.
Georgia Inmate Sentenced for Orchestrating Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Scheme from JailRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – A Georgia inmate who admitted he conducted a pandemic unemployment insurance fraud scheme from behind bars, which included using the personal identifiable information (PII) of other inmates, was sentenced to prison this week for his crime.
Jacob Garner, 34, of Milledgeville, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 24 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release by Chief U.S. District Judge Marc T. Treadwell on Feb. 9 after he previously pleaded guilty to theft of United States government funds. Garner’s federal sentence will be served consecutively to the parole revocation sentence he is currently serving in Baldwin County, Georgia. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records, Garner was an inmate at the Baldwin County Jail in 2020 when a Baldwin County detective located messages between Garner and his then girlfriend and co-defendant, Lindsey Garner (née Quinton), 32, of Milledgeville, discussing filing fraudulent unemployment insurance/pandemic unemployment assistance (UI/PUA) claims to the Georgia Department of Labor (GA-DOL).
U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG) agents investigated and discovered that Garner instructed Quinton to obtain fraudulent UI/PUA loans for both themselves and two inmates. Ultimately, of the four claims, only two claims were issued: $10,329 in Quinton’s name and $13,776 in Garner’s name, totaling $24,105. Quinton was employed at the time and was not eligible for the pandemic loans; incarcerated individuals are also not eligible for UI/PUA benefits. All four of the claims listed Quinton’s former mailing address and were submitted from the same IP address. In addition, the email addresses used to obtain fraudulent UI/PUA loans were linked back to Quinton’s personal email account. A search of Garner’s jail cell found a list of inmates with their PII, including social security numbers and dates of birth. Both Garner and Quinton admitted to their roles in the scheme; Quinton pleaded guilty to theft of government funds on Aug. 24, 2022, and was sentenced to serve five years of probation on Nov. 2, 2022.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor-Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG), the United States Secret Service (USSS) and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Kalim prosecuted the case.
North Carolina Man with a Violent Criminal Past is Convicted of Armed Heroin Trafficking in Athens, GeorgiaRead the Press Release
ATHENS, Ga. – A North Carolina man with a violent criminal history was convicted by a federal jury today on charges related to armed heroin trafficking in the Athens community.
Nathaniel Hilliard III, 37, of Raleigh, North Carolina, was found guilty of one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, three counts of distribution of heroin and one count of failure to appear today following a three-day trial that began on Feb. 7 before U.S. District Judge C. Ashley Royal. Hilliard faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count of distribution of heroin and a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine for both possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and failure to appear.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, local and federal agents were investigating armed drug trafficking in the Athens community in May 2016. Hilliard sold an FBI confidential informant (CI) a .38 special revolver and several small quantities of heroin between May 23-25, 2016, at the Rolling Ridge Apartments in Athens. All of the buys were audio and video recorded, and one occurred in the presence of what appeared to be a preschool-aged child. Hilliard has prior convictions for conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon and assault by strangulation out of North Carolina.
While on pretrial release, Hilliard was living in North Carolina and being supervised by a U.S. Probation Officer (P.O.) in the Western District of North Carolina. On April 7, 2022, Hilliard’s P.O. advised him to make sure he appeared in court for his pretrial conference in Athens on April 13, 2022, but Hilliard was uncooperative and did not show up to a requested meeting with his P.O. the next day. He also failed to appear at his pretrial conference in Athens. A bench warrant was issued for his arrest and Hilliard was located on July 8, 2022, after he was arrested in Charlotte, North Carolina, on domestic violence charges.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The case was investigated by the FBI Athens Middle Georgia Safe Streets Gang Task Force, Northeast Georgia Regional Drug Task Force and the Athens Clarke County Police Department Gang Unit.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mike Morrison and Tamara Jarrett.
Man Charged with Impersonating an Officer Detained Following Initial AppearanceRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ga. – A federal criminal complaint charging a Columbus resident with impersonating a federal agent was unsealed today.
Robert Earhart, Jr., 38, of Columbus, Georgia, had his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Court Judge Stephen Hyles at the U.S. Courthouse in Columbus today and was ordered detained by the Court. Earhart, Jr. is charged by criminal complaint with one count of false personation of an officer or employee of the United States. If convicted, Earhart, Jr. faces a maximum sentence of three years imprisonment to be followed by one year of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.
According to court proceedings and the criminal complaint, Earhart, Jr. allegedly left a voicemail with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Columbus on Jan. 11, identifying himself as a CIA Agent with the “protective operations division” with top security clearance and requesting a meeting with U.S. Attorney Peter Leary. Earhart, Jr. is also alleged to have represented himself as a Homeland Security agent. Earhart, Jr. has a history of impersonating law enforcement officers, including previously identifying himself as a DEA agent, when he attempted to free three inmates from the Muscogee County, Georgia, jail in May 2019. Earhart, Jr. was taken into custody by local law enforcement at the U.S. Courthouse in Columbus, on Feb. 8.
The case was investigated by the FBI, with valuable assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service and the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Helmick is prosecuting the case.
A complaint is only an allegation of criminal conduct, and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt.
Defendants Connected to Southwest Georgia Armed Drug Trafficking Ring Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
ALBANY, Ga. – Two individuals associated with an 18-defendant armed drug trafficking network centered in Tifton, Georgia, were sentenced to prison for their crimes recently resulting from an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation.
Juanjava Boggerty, aka “Jay,” 49, of Tifton, was sentenced to serve 235 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Oct. 12, 2022. Co-defendant Darrell Mack, 33, of Tifton, was sentenced to serve 78 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine on Oct. 13, 2022. U.S. District Judge Louis Sands handed down the sentences on Feb. 2.
“The Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force has shut down another armed trafficking network in the Middle District of Georgia, this time in the Tifton community,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “There is more work to be done as law enforcement at every level continues to identify and stop weaponized criminal groups from causing further harm in our region.”
“We removed more methamphetamine traffickers from the streets,” said Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “These offenders can no longer distribute this dangerous drug as they now face serious time behind bars for both their drug crimes and violent criminal conduct. This investigation was a success because of the great working relationship between DEA and its law enforcement partners.”
“There is no initiative more critical to ATF than increasing the safety of our communities. Cases which result in the arrests and prosecution of armed drug traffickers are fundamental to continuing this initiative while simultaneously showing criminals that ATF and its law enforcement partners will not falter in this mission,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka. “We will pursue violent drug traffickers such as these wherever they may operate and they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
“The lengthy sentences handed down to these defendants send a clear message that drug dealing in our communities will not be tolerated. Georgians deserve to work, live and play in a safe environment. We will never stop protecting our neighborhoods from dangerous and illegal drugs,” said GBI Director Michael Register.
“Our fight against drug traffickers and this armed trafficking ring is yet another step in stemming the flow of meth into Tifton and Tift County. With the help of our community and our law enforcement allies, we will continue to make this a safer place to work and live,” said Tift County Sheriff Gene Scarbrough.
“It’s great to have these defendants, the drugs and the firearms off the streets of Tifton. We are appreciative of the coordination between agencies involved in this investigation,” said Tifton Police Department Chief Steve Hyman. “Their work in this case makes a difference in the lives of our citizens who fall victim to drugs in our community.”
The following co-defendants have pleaded guilty and been sentenced:
Tevin Parker, aka “Tay,” 28, of Tifton, pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine on July 26, 2022, and was sentenced to serve 262 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release on Nov. 3, 2022;
Courtney Taylor, 39, of Tifton, pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on Oct. 4, 2022, and was sentenced to serve 235 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release to be served concurrently to a sentence imposed in Tift County, Georgia, Superior Court and any sentence which may be imposed in Ben Hill County, Georgia, Superior Court for probation violation on Jan. 25.;
Brian Foster, aka “Joe,” aka “FOS,” 30, of Tifton, pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on Sept. 27, 2022, and was sentenced to serve 136 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release on Dec. 30, 2022;
Bradrick Boston aka “Big Baby,” 34, of Tifton, pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine on July 20, 2022, and was sentenced to serve 108 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release to be served concurrently to a sentence imposed in Tift County, Georgia, Superior Court for probation violation on Nov. 3, 2022;
Clenton Davis, 33, of Ashburn, Georgia, pleaded guilty to managing drug premises on Aug. 2, 2022, and was sentenced to serve 96 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on Nov. 20, 2022;
Keyuntran Taylor, 23, of Ashburn, pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on Oct. 5, 2022, and was sentenced to serve 70 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release on Jan. 26.;
Dmya Norris, 25, of Tifton, pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on Oct. 5, 2022, and was sentenced to serve 60 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release on Jan. 26.;
Dante Hille, 29, of Ashburn, pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine on June 14, 2022, and was sentenced to serve 51 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on Sept. 15, 2022;
Vontesha Dixon, 32, of Tifton, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Oct. 4, 2022, and was sentenced to serve 36 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on Jan. 19.;
Keilaysha Dixon, 23, of Tifton, pleaded guilty to use of a communication facility in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on Sept. 22, 2022, and was sentenced to serve 30 months in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release on Dec. 30, 2022; and
Jala Taylor, 24, of Tifton, pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine on Oct. 11, 2022, and was sentenced to serve 24 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on Jan. 27.
The following co-defendants have pleaded guilty in this case and are awaiting sentencing:
Rafon Carithers, aka “Tweed,” 34, of Tifton, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on May 19, 2022, and faces a maximum sentence of 40 years of imprisonment to be followed by at least four years of supervised release and a $5,000,000 fine;
Jehmeil Carmichael, 35, of Tifton, pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and faces a maximum sentence of 20 years of imprisonment to be followed by at least three years of supervised release and a $1,000,000 fine;
McKevor Mulkey aka “Chevy,” 32, of Tifton, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on April 19, 2022, and faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment to be followed by at least five years of supervised release and a $10,000,000 fine;
Rishaun Richardson, 26, of Tifton, pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on Aug. 23, 2022, and faces a maximum sentence of 20 years of imprisonment to be followed by at least three years of supervised release and a $1,000,000 fine; and
Damarius Williams, 25, of Tifton, pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on Oct. 18, 2022, and faces a maximum sentence of 20 years of imprisonment to be followed by at least three years of supervised release and a $1,000,000 fine.
According to court documents, GBI agents—working with a confidential informant (CI)—began investigating a Tifton methamphetamine supplier known as “Jay” in May 2019, who was later determined to be Boggerty. Under surveillance, the CI made six controlled buys of methamphetamine between May and Dec. 2019, including purchases at Foster’s residence on Poplar Street and involving other named defendants in this case. A search warrant was executed at Foster’s residence in June 2019, where agents recovered methamphetamine and other controlled substances and drug paraphernalia along with a .40 caliber pistol loaded with 15 rounds of ammunition and a sawed-off 20-gauge shotgun.
Agents made more controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Boggerty after the search, including a purchase with co-defendant Taylor. A search warrant was executed at Boggerty’s residence at 152 Branch Road in Tifton in Dec. 2019; agents found 107 grams of methamphetamine along with digital scales, baggies and other items associated with drug trafficking. In all, Boggerty’s drug trafficking operation is being held responsible for distributing between 1.5 and 4.5 kilograms of methamphetamine in the Tifton community.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The case was investigated by DEA, ATF, GBI, Mid-South Narcotics Task Force, Tifton Police Department, Tift County Sheriff’s Office, Turner County Sheriff’s Office, Crisp County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia Department of Corrections, Georgia State Patrol and Georgia Department of Community Supervision.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Melody Ellis and Criminal Chief Leah McEwen.
Walton County Resident Convicted of Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
ATHENS, Ga. – A Walton County resident was convicted by a federal jury late yesterday afternoon of possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) resulting from a GBI-led undercover investigation of an online peer-to-peer sharing network.
Johnathan Remsen, 37, of Loganville, Georgia, was found guilty of possession of child pornography on Feb. 1 following a two-day trial that began on Jan. 31 before U.S. District C. Ashley Royal. Remsen faces a maximum of 20 years imprisonment to be followed by a maximum supervised release term of life and a $250,000 fine. In addition, Remsen will have to register as a sex offender for life upon release from prison. Sentencing should occur within the next 90 days. There is no parole in the federal system.
“After a lengthy investigation and subsequent trial, Johnathan Remsen is finally being held criminally accountable for willfully downloading hundreds of images and videos of the sexual abuse and exploitation of children, including extremely young children,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Every time a person views child sexual abuse material, they become complicit in the appalling abuse of a child. Our office will push for the federal prosecution of these criminal voyeurs.”
“The victimization of a child doesn’t end when that child’s pornographic images are recorded. Every time an individual like Remsen possesses those images and views them for personal gratification, that child is victimized again and again,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI will always make it a priority to protect our most vulnerable assets, our children.”
“Federal prosecution sends a clear message that downloading and viewing child sexual abuse material is a serious crime. The GBI’s Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit investigates numerous cases just like this one and will not slow down until these perpetrators are held accountable. We’ll continue to work with strong federal partners, like the United States Attorney’s Office, to seek justice for these vulnerable victims,” said GBI Director Mike Register.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, GBI conducted an undercover investigation on the peer-to-peer sharing network BitTorrent in July 2017. An undercover agent received 29 videos containing CSAM from an IP address traced back to a Walton County residence where Remsen resided. Law enforcement searched the residence in Jan. 2018, recovering a computer tower belonging to Remsen that contained 2,357 picture files and 196 video files of suspected CSAM. Remsen was interviewed by law enforcement and made statements indicating that he “accidentally” downloaded CSAM, and then later stated that it was not an accident. He further admitted that he looked at CSAM, but he never meant to download or keep it. The explicit photos and videos contained child sexual abuse material of children 12 years old and younger.
The case was investigated by the GBI and the FBI.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Kalim and Criminal Chief Leah McEwen are prosecuting the case.
Columbus Tax Preparer Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges for Filing Fraudulent Tax Returns, Not Paying Personal TaxesRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ga. – A Columbus-based tax preparer pleaded guilty in federal court this morning to charges that she submitted false claims for tax credits for her clients and also failed to pay her own personal taxes.
Nadine Word, 35, pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation and presentation of false and fraudulent individual income tax returns and one count of willful failure to file return, supply information, or pay tax before U.S. District Judge Clay Land today, Feb. 2. Word faces a maximum of three years imprisonment to be followed by one year of supervised release and a $100,000 fine for the first count and a maximum sentence of one year imprisonment to be followed by one year of supervised release and a fine of $25,000 for the second count. Sentencing is scheduled for June 13. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Tax preparers have an ethical and legal obligation to file correct tax returns for their clients, and should—of course—be paying their own taxes,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “This kind of fraud greatly harms the public trust; individuals in the Middle District of Georgia caught illegally gaming the system by making up false claims to reap larger refunds or pay less taxes than everybody else will be held accountable at the federal level.”
“Nadine Word pleaded guilty to preparing and submitting false tax returns and failing to file her personal tax returns. As tax season is currently underway, citizens should be reminded that committing tax fraud will lead to criminal prosecution,” said James E. Dorsey, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office.
According to court documents, between at least 2014 and 2018, Word prepared and submitted fraudulent tax returns out of her tax preparation business, Superior Taxes. These fraudulent returns resulted in greater tax refunds for Word’s clients and greater fees for Word, amounting to a total loss of $586,565. Word would submit fraudulent claims for earned income credits, education credits and business losses. She also failed to file her own tax returns during that time period.
The most common fraudulent claim Word submitted was for education credits for individuals who did not attend the school listed on the Form 8863 submitted with the Form 1040 tax return. An analysis of tax returns claiming education credits revealed that 408 of 494 claims filed by Word had no supporting education records at the documented educational institution. The falsely submitted education credits from these 408 claims resulted in a tax loss of $556,145. Additionally, the IRS evaluated 31 individual returns finding false education credits, false earned income credits and false business expenses. Every return included at least one false item. The tax loss for those 31 returns is $64,767. The total tax loss from the false education credits and the 31 individual returns, discounting duplications from the false education credits, is $586,565.
The case was investigated by IRS.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Helmick is prosecuting the case for the Government.
Macon Man Sentenced to Prison for Making Death Threats, Attempting Extortion on Social MediaRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – A Macon resident who was previously living in Phoenix, Arizona, was sentenced to serve 34 months in prison today after he pleaded guilty to making death threats and attempting to blackmail an individual through Facebook.
Austin Mitchel Fitch aka Jakob Enderson, 29, was sentenced to serve 34 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release by Chief U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell today after he previously pleaded guilty to two counts of sending threatening communications via interstate commerce and one count of interstate communications with intent to extort. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Death threats and extortion are not constitutionally protected speech. There are repercussions for those who threaten to harm and blackmail people through social media,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “I want to commend FBI’s National Threat Operations Center for its work in this case and its continued efforts to protect our citizens from harm.”
“No one should have to face threats and extortion in person or through social media,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Thanks to the FBI’s National Threat Operations Center, Austin Fitch will no longer be able to make threats. This case is a warning to others who want to use social media as their weapon of choice.”
According to court records, a person contacted FBI’s National Threat Operations Center (NTOC) on April 28, 2022, to report death threats he received through Facebook from an individual named Jakob Enderson. A second person also received death threats on the same day from Jakob Enderson. An exigent emergency request for subscriber information by FBI to Facebook resulted in the account being traced to Fitch. On April 29, 2022, the FBI spoke with Fitch, who admitted to making the death threats and indicated that he believed it was within his constitutional rights to make such threats. The agent advised Fitch that these types of comments are not protected speech and that it was illegal to make death threats. Following that conversation with FBI, Fitch proceeded to reach back out to both persons several times with additional threats through Facebook, including an attempt to extort money.
The case was investigated by FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Will Keyes prosecuted the case.
Southwest Georgia Man with Violent Criminal History Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
ALBANY, Ga. – A Southwest Georgia resident with a violent criminal history including convictions for aggravated assault and gang participation pleaded guilty to illegally possessing a firearm in federal court today.
Omar Malik Miller, 35, of Albany, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon before U.S. District Judge Leslie Gardner. Miller faces a maximum of ten in years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a maximum $250,000 fine. Sentencing has not been scheduled. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Repeat offenders with violent criminal histories have no business possessing a firearm and will face federal consequences for this crime,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Federal agencies are working closely with our local law enforcement partners to identify the most disruptive and violent individuals in the communities we serve and hold them accountable for their crimes at the federal level.”
“The safety of our community is paramount and those who refuse to conduct themselves in a peaceful and lawful manner will be held accountable at the highest level. Gun and gang violence is harming our community and we as a whole must be involved to prevent further destruction of our future generations,” said Chief Michael Persley, Albany Police Department.
According to court documents, Miller was wanted on outstanding local warrants in June 2021. Albany Police Department officers, working with the U.S. Marshals, went to a residence where Miller was staying on Ridgemont Road on June 11, and located a .40 caliber pistol. Miller told officers he had found the firearm in an alley and was planning to sell it.
Miller has prior convictions for aggravated assault, participation in gang activity and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime in Dougherty County, Georgia, Superior Court.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. 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. 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.
The case was investigated by the Albany Police Department, the U.S. Marshals and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Redavid is prosecuting the case for the Government.
Two Defendants Sentenced to Prison Resulting from Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Investigation in Middle GeorgiaRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – Two men, including one defendant classified as a career offender, were sentenced to prison for their roles in a drug trafficking network centered in Warner Robins, Georgia, responsible for distributing approximately 16 kilograms of methamphetamine. This case is the result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation into armed drug trafficking in Middle Georgia.
Matthew Kay, 35, of Warner Robins, was sentenced to serve 235 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release to run consecutively to three sentences he is currently serving in Houston County, Georgia. Kay pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Sept. 6. Kay is a career offender with two prior felony drug distribution convictions in state court. Parsa Ervin, 45, of Warner Robins, was sentenced to serve 57 months in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release to run consecutively to any term of imprisonment that may be imposed in three separate cases in Houston County. Ervin pleaded guilty to two counts of use of a communication facility to conspire to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Aug. 30. U.S. District Judge Tilman E. “Tripp” Self, III handed down the sentences on Jan. 19. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Armed drug traffickers and those associated with criminal organizations that threaten the safety of our region will be held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “The federal, state and local law enforcement agencies that comprise the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force are laser-focused on identifying and dismantling the most dangerous criminal networks in the Middle District of Georgia.”
“This investigation deals a fatal blow to a once-thriving ‘meth’ ring,” said Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “With the leader facing up to 40 years behind bars, the community of Warner Robins and elsewhere can rest assured that their communities are much safer today thanks to the outstanding case work by DEA and our local law enforcement partners.”
“ATF considers the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force a critical partner in its long-term mission of removing armed gangs, criminals and narcotics traffickers from our communities,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Atlanta Field Division.
“The Warner Robins Police Department is honored to have worked in conjunction with our federal partners through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force which resulted in the outcome of this case,” said Chief Wayne Fisher, Warner Robins Police Department. “It is through such local, state and federal partnerships that impacts such as these can be realized. It was with great work and effort from the men and women of this task force which resulted in these arrests that will have an immeasurable impact for the good of our shared communities.”
According to documents and other evidence admitted into court, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents and Warner Robins Police Department officers investigated co-defendant Ontarrio Veal’s aka Torrie, 32, of Warner Robins, drug trafficking organization based out of Warner Robins from Jan. to June 2020. Law enforcement obtained court orders to intercept the phone calls and text messages from Veal’s and co-defendant Tamara Hall’s cell phones. Agents learned that Veal was a multi-kilogram methamphetamine dealer and surveilled Veal and various co-defendants conducting methamphetamine transactions and traveling to Atlanta to purchase large quantities of methamphetamine.
Veal was taken into custody on June 1 on a return trip from Atlanta in possession of three kilograms of methamphetamine and a Glock .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol with a 50-round drum magazine. Agents executed search warrants at various locations in Middle Georgia, seizing multiple firearms and ammunition, methamphetamine and more than $100,000 cash. The organization is responsible for distributing more than 16 kilograms of methamphetamine.
Veal pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Nov. 15 and faces a maximum term of 40 years in prison to be followed by at least four years of supervised release and a $5,000,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for March 7, 2023.
Seven additional co-defendants have pleaded guilty and/or been sentenced as a result of this case:
Reginald Lowe, 41, of Warner Robins, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Aug. 30, 2022, and was sentenced to serve 240 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release on Dec. 6, 2022. Lowe’s federal sentence will run consecutive to a state sentence he is currently serving in Houston County, Georgia, for an aggravated assault conviction;
Milton Simmons aka Mann, 40, of Macon, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Aug. 1, 2022, and was sentenced to serve 120 months on Jan. 10;
Donna Ussery, 31, of Warner Robins, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on April 19, 2022, and was sentenced to serve 100 months in prison on Oct. 4, 2022;
Marquell Gaines aka Paris, 38, of Warner Robins, pleaded guilty to use of a communication facility to conspire to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on July 19, 2022, and was sentenced to serve 48 months in prison on Oct. 11, 2022;
Tamara Hall, 39, of Warner Robins, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on April 19, 2022, and sentencing is scheduled for April 25;
Victor Mendoza, 34, of Warner Robins, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to drugs on Dec. 1, 2022, via a global plea agreement in the Southern District of Alabama and sentencing is scheduled for March 3; and
Eddie Linkhorn, 42, of Warner Robins, pleaded guilty to two counts of use of a communication facility to conspire to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Oct. 20, 2022, and sentencing is scheduled for March 7.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
This case is being investigated by Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Warner Robins Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Will Keyes is prosecuting the case.
13-Count Indictment Unsealed Charging 9 Defendants in Alleged Armed Fentanyl, Meth Trafficking Ring in Middle GeorgiaRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – Nine individuals are facing federal drug and firearms charges alleging their participation in the armed distribution of large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl into Middle Georgia communities.
The federal indictment was unsealed today charging the following defendants:
- Heather Breland, 38, of Atlanta, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine;
- Raiford Reeves aka RH, 42, of Warner Robins, Georgia, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, three counts of distribution of methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon;
- Travis Warthen aka Trap, 38, of Warner Robins, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon;
- Randall Heath, 62, of Macon, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and one count possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine;
- Lucretia Snellgrove, 51, of Warner Robins, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine;
- Jeremiah Kaleta, 45, of Warner Robins, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine;
- Kendall Howard, 30, of Centerville, Georgia, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances;
- Kenneth Maddox, 30, of Warner Robins, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances; and
- Luis Acosta, 34, of Centerville, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.
Reeves faces a mandatory minimum of 25 years imprisonment up to a maximum of life imprisonment. The remaining defendants each face up to a maximum of life imprisonment.
Five defendants were arrested today; three defendants were in state custody. Co-defendant Maddox is at-large. Initial appearances for the defendants in custody will occur before U.S. Magistrate Judge Charles H. Weigle today and at a later date to be scheduled.
According to the indictment, which was returned by a federal grand jury on Jan. 11 and unsealed today, the defendants allegedly conspired to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and more than 40 grams of fentanyl between Oct. 2021 and June 2022. In addition, four firearms were seized during the investigation.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Warner Robins Police Department, the Houston County Sheriff’s Office, the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office and the Peach County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Will Keyes is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Woman Charged with Threatening to Bomb Democratic Campaign Office Detained During Initial AppearanceRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – A northeast Georgia resident charged with threatening to bomb the Athens-Clarke County Democratic Committee Campaign headquarters in Athens, Georgia, last month and lying to federal investigators was remanded from state to federal custody at her initial appearance today.
Jessica Diane Higginbotham aka Jessica Harriod, 35, of Elberton, had her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Court Judge Charles Weigle at the U.S. Courthouse in Macon this afternoon; the government’s motion to detain Higginbotham was granted by the Court. Higginbotham is charged with one count of communicating a bomb threat and one count of making false statements. If convicted of communicating a bomb threat, Higginbotham faces a maximum sentence of ten years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. If convicted of making false statements, she faces a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
The indictment alleges that Higginbotham made a threat to bomb the Athens-Clarke County Democratic Committee Campaign building in Athens, Georgia, on Dec. 3, 2022, and lied to federal agents on Dec. 4, 2022, about her knowledge of a specific email address and the use of the TextNow communication application on her Samsung cellphone, both of which belong to her.
The case was investigated by the FBI, the U.S. Capitol Police, the Athens-Clarke County Police Department and the Elbert County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Will R. Keyes is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is only an allegation of criminal conduct, and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt.
Florida Man with Ties to Mexican Drug Cartel Sentenced to Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Eight Kilos of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
ALBANY, Ga. – A Haines City, Florida, resident with a lengthy criminal history and connections to a Mexican drug cartel was sentenced to prison for possession with intent to distribute approximately eight kilograms of methamphetamine resulting from an I-75 traffic stop in South Georgia.
James E. Freitas, 48, was sentenced to serve 360 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Louis Sands on Dec. 29, 2022, after he previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Co-defendant, Miguel L. Mora, 44, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Aug. 12, 2022, and is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 2. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Individuals tied to criminal organizations trafficking large quantities of the most lethal controlled substances into our communities will face steep federal consequences for crimes which are contributing to the addiction and death of many Americans,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Local, state and federal law enforcement teams are working to dismantle these cartels and hold the people associated with them responsible.”
“The sentencing of this reoffender is the result of the collaborative efforts between DEA and its law enforcement partners who work tirelessly to eliminate the distribution of the insidious drug methamphetamine,” said Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “This defendant will now face serious time in prison.”
According to court documents, a Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office deputy attempted to conduct a routine traffic stop for a driving violation as Freitas was traveling on I-75 on July 11, 2019. Freitas was unable to provide identification and gave conflicting information. As Freitas was standing outside the vehicle talking with the deputy, Mora climbed into the front seat and drove away in the car. Mora drove the vehicle into a field and then fled on foot into the woods carrying a large bag. Mora was quickly apprehended; the bag that he carried from the car was searched and found to contain 8,099 grams of 97% pure methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $748,000. On the floorboard of the car, officers found a loaded .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol with an obliterated serial number possessed by Freitas.
A search warrant subsequently executed on Freitas’ cell phone found photos of the gun, plus text and WhatsApp instant messages detailing both defendants’ travel to and from Nashville, Tennessee, to purchase and transport methamphetamine to a third party in Florida. The WhatsApp messages were between Freitas, a member of a Mexican drug cartel, and higher-ranking leaders within the organization concerning the distribution of methamphetamine.
Freitas has a lengthy criminal history with prior felony drug convictions for possession and trafficking of controlled substances in Florida. Mora has a lengthy criminal history, with convictions in Arkansas and Florida, including a prior felony conviction for trafficking amphetamine.
DEA and Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Morrison prosecuted this case.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia Collects $6.8 Million in Civil and Criminal Actions in Fiscal Year 2022Read the Press Release
ALBANY, Ga. – U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary announced today that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia collected $6,814,729.05 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2022. Of this amount, $3,382,503.60 was collected in criminal actions and $3,432,225.45 was collected in civil actions.
Further, the Middle District of Georgia worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $804,200 in cases pursued jointly by these offices. Of this amount, $19,200 was collected in criminal actions and $785,000 was collected in civil actions.
“Protecting the federal treasury and recovering funds on behalf of the U.S. taxpayer are core priorities for our office. We appreciate the partnership we have law enforcement agencies as well as the hard work of our criminal and civil Assistant U.S. Attorneys to successfully hold those who commit financial crimes accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary.
The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.
For more information about the Crime Victims Fund, please visit https://ovc.ojp.gov/about/crime-victims-fund.
South Georgia Man with Violent Criminal Past Sentenced to Maximum Prison Term for Possessing Numerous Stolen GunsRead the Press Release
ALBANY, Ga. – A South Georgia resident with a violent criminal history found in possession of numerous stolen firearms and who released his dog to attack deputies before he fled arrest was sentenced to the maximum prison term allowed under law.
James Currin, 45, of Bainbridge, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Leslie Gardner on Dec. 15 after he previously pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Repeat offenders with violent criminal histories who broker illegal drugs for stolen guns unquestionably make our communities less safe,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Decatur County Sheriff’s Office deputies put themselves in harm’s way to locate and arrest this defendant, successfully stopping a firearms trafficker from moving more guns into the hands of criminals.”
“There is no initiative more critical to ATF than increasing the safety of our communities. Cases which result in the arrests and prosecution of violent criminals are fundamental to continuing this initiative while simultaneously showing criminals that ATF and its law enforcement partners will not falter in this mission,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Alicia Jones. “We will pursue violent criminals such as these wherever they may operate and they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
“A maximum 120-month prison sentence in this case was justified; attacking a law enforcement officer should not be tolerated,” said Decatur County Sheriff Wiley Griffin. “I am very thankful for the help of ATF and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. I am satisfied to see justice was served in court, and that a repeat violent offender is off the streets.”
According to court documents, Currin, who is a convicted felon, was under investigation in Sept. 2019 for distribution of methamphetamine and illegal possession of numerous firearms. During this time period, Decatur County deputies were investigating a home burglary involving 20 stolen firearms. On April 1, 2020, deputies learned that the burglary suspect had traded six of the stolen firearms to Currin in exchange for methamphetamine. A search warrant was subsequently executed at Currin’s home. When deputies approached the defendant, who was armed and walking with a pit bull on a leash, Currin released the dog and ran into the woods. The dog attacked an officer while other responding officers ran after Currin but were initially unable to locate him.
During a search of Currin’s home, deputies found a total of 23 long guns and three handguns, as well as methamphetamine. Some of the firearms recovered from Currin’s home were confirmed stolen in the home burglary and some had obliterated or removed serial numbers. Currin was taken into custody on April 7 in possession of a semi-automatic pistol. Currin told investigators that he was planning “to do a suicide by cop.”
Currin has multiple prior felonies, including methamphetamine possession and felony battery-great bodily harm charges in Georgia and Florida. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possession firearms.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. 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. 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.
The case was investigated by the Decatur County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Melody Ellis prosecuted the case for the Government.
Georgia Man with Ties to White Supremacist Organization Pleads Guilty to Federal Hate Crime for Racially Motivated ShootingsRead the Press Release
A Georgia man pleaded guilty today to a federal hate crime and a firearms violation for shooting into two Clayton County convenience stores in an attempt to kill those inside because of their race and ethnicity.
According to information presented in court, on July 30, 2021, Larry Edward Foxworth, 48, of Jonesboro, fired numerous rounds from a Glock pistol through a window and door of a Shell gas station convenience store on Tara Boulevard in Jonesboro. Just minutes later, Foxworth again fired multiple rounds from the same handgun through the windows and door of a nearby BP gas station convenience store. Both stores were open for business and occupied when Foxworth fired the shots. No one was injured in either shooting, but Foxworth admitted that he intended to kill people inside the stores and on the premises.
Clayton County Police Department officers arrested Foxworth shortly after the second attack. While in police custody at the scene, Foxworth made multiple statements explaining that he was targeting Black people and others who he perceived to be Arab. Foxworth expressed hope that he had killed his targets and professed belief in white supremacist ideology and an allegiance to a white supremacist organization.
“No one should have to live in fear of being targeted for deadly violence because they are Black or Arab American,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This defendant, who professed support for a white supremacist organization, is being held accountable for an abhorrent act of violence motivated by race and national origin. This conviction should make clear that the Justice Department stands ready to prosecute any individual who carries out a violent hate-motivated crime in our country.”
“Foxworth used a firearm to commit a heinous hate crime that traumatized his victims as well as the communities who rely on these businesses,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan for the Northern District of Georgia. “The vigorous prosecution of such abhorrent acts of violence and intimidation with the assistance of our federal partners is a top priority for this office.”
“Hate-fueled violent crimes ripple through communities, making entire groups feel unsafe and unwelcome, spawning fear and anger,” said Special Agent in Charge Keri Farley of the FBI Atlanta Field Office. “Prosecuting hate crimes is a top priority of the FBI. We will not back down from obtaining justice for victims of hate-based violence.”
The plea agreement filed in court calls for a sentence of between 20 and 25 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for March 16, 2023.
The FBI and Clayton County Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Alan Gray for the Northern District of Georgia and Trial Attorney Alec C. Ward of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.
Five Individuals Sentenced in $12 Million Federal Financial Aid Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Five individuals were sentenced yesterday for conspiring to defraud the U.S. Department of Education’s financial aid programs of over $12 million in federal funds.
According to court documents, from around August 2010 through May 2018, the defendants created and ran an elaborate sham university – the Columbus, Georgia, satellite campus of Apex School of Theology (Apex Columbus). Anderson, the former Director of Apex Columbus, enrolled hundreds of individuals who were not qualified and who had no desire to obtain a theological education to pose as students. The defendants and their co-conspirators then worked together to fraudulently complete financial aid applications in students’ names and to complete students’ homework and exams. After falsely ensuring that the sham students would receive federal financial aid, the defendants either stole student financial aid refund checks or required students to cash their aid checks and provide a portion to the co-conspirators. During the course of the conspiracy, the Department of Education issued approximately $12 million in fraudulently procured financial aid.
Name, Age
Residence
Sentence
Sandra Anderson, 63
Hampton, Georgia
108 months in prison
Three years of supervised release
Yolanda Brown Thomas, 51
Columbus, Georgia
63 months in prison
Three years of supervised release
Kristina Parker, 35
Stone Mountain, Georgia
Four years in prison
Three years of supervised release
Erica Montgomery, 49
Fort Mitchell, Alabama
51 months in prison
Three years of supervised release
Leo Frank Thomas, 56
Phenix City, Alabama
Three years in prison
Three years of supervised release
All five defendants were also ordered to pay, jointly and severally, $11,821,022 in restitution to the Department of Education.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary for the Middle District of Georgia; Special Agent in Charge Keri E. Farley of the FBI Atlanta Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Reginald J. France of the Department of Education Office of Inspector General (ED-OIG), Southeastern Regional Office; and Special Agent in Charge James E. Dorsey of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) made the announcement.
The FBI, ED-OIG, and IRS-CI investigated the case.
Assistant Chief Leslie S. Garthwaite and Trial Attorneys Siji Moore, Spencer Ryan, and Matt Kahn of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case, with valuable assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia.
NE Georgia Woman Indicted for Bomb Threat Against Athens Democratic Campaign OfficeRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – A federal grand jury returned an indictment yesterday charging a northeast Georgia woman with threatening to bomb the Athens-Clarke County Democratic Committee Campaign headquarters in Athens, Georgia, earlier this month and lying to federal investigators.
Jessica Diane Higginbotham aka Jessica Harriod, 35, of Elberton, is charged with one count of communicating a bomb threat and one count of making false statements. If convicted of communicating a bomb threat, Higginbotham faces a maximum sentence of ten years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. If convicted of making false statements, she faces a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
Higginbotham is currently in state custody; she will have an initial appearance in front of a U.S. District Court magistrate judge at a later date.
The indictment alleges that Higginbotham made a threat to bomb the Athens-Clarke County Democratic Committee Campaign building in Athens, Georgia, on Dec. 3 and lied to federal agents on Dec. 4 about her knowledge of a specific email address and the use of the TextNow communication application on her Samsung cellphone, both of which belong to her.
The case was investigated by the FBI, the U.S. Capitol Police, the Athens-Clarke County Police Department and the Elbert County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Will R. Keyes is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is only an allegation of criminal conduct, and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt.
Peter D. Leary Sworn in as 17th Presidentially Appointed U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of GeorgiaRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – Peter D. Leary was officially sworn in today as the 17th presidentially appointed U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia.
U.S. Attorney Leary was administered the oath of office by Chief U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell at the U.S. Courthouse in Macon in the presence of his immediate family late this afternoon. President Joe Biden nominated Leary on Nov. 14, and the U.S. Senate confirmed his nomination on Dec. 6.
“The opportunity to serve the citizens of the Middle District of Georgia as their U.S. Attorney is a tremendous honor,” said U.S. Attorney Leary. “Our office’s strong legacy is due to its dedicated team members and the positive relationships fostered with each other and our law enforcement partners, defense bar, court and community-at-large. Together, we will never cease in our mission to uphold the rule of law, keep our communities safe and protect the civil rights of all people.”
Prior to receiving the presidential nomination, Leary served as the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia in acting and then interim capacities—appointed by order of Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and then by Judge Treadwell—since Dec. 2020. Currently, Leary serves on two Attorney General Advisory Committee of U.S. Attorneys (AGAC) subcommittees: Violent Crime and Cyber and Intellectual Property.
Leary has served the citizens of the Middle District of Georgia as a prosecutor since 2012 and as its First Assistant U.S. Attorney since 2018. Since joining the United States Attorney’s Office (USAO), he has worked as the office’s Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council (ATAC) coordinator, its Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property (CHIP) prosecutor and its National Security Cyber Specialist (NSCS). In 2021, he shared an Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys Director’s Award for Superior Performance in Prevention and Reentry Activities for work on a campaign aimed at educating youth about gun possession: www.armedwithknowledge.org. In 2019, he received the Anti-Defamation League’s SHIELD award with the FBI and Department of Justice partners, and he shared the 2018 International Association of Chiefs of Police/Thomson Reuters Award for Excellence in Criminal Investigation with the FBI and the GBI.
Leary served as a trial attorney in the Federal Programs Branch of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division from 2007 to 2012, where he worked extensively with the Intelligence Community. Prior to joining the Department of Justice, Leary served as a law clerk for U.S. District Judge Hugh Lawson on the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia from 2005 to 2007.
As U.S. Attorney, Leary is the top-ranking federal law enforcement official in the Middle District of Georgia, which covers 70 of Georgia’s 159 counties and includes Albany, Athens, Columbus, Macon and Valdosta with a population of approximately 2,045,000 people. The office is responsible for prosecuting federal crimes in the district, including crimes related to terrorism, public corruption, child exploitation, fraud, firearms, illegal gangs and narcotics. The office also defends the United States in civil cases and collects debts owed to the United States.
Raised in Watkinsville, Georgia, and a graduate of Athens Academy in Athens, Georgia, Leary received his B.A. and J.D. from University of Virginia, where he was a Jefferson Scholar.
Following High-Speed Pursuit on I-75, Metro Atlanta Resident Sentenced to Prison for Methamphetamine DistributionRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – A metro-Atlanta resident who was trafficking nearly one kilogram of methamphetamine through the Middle District of Georgia from an Atlanta source when he attempted to flee police on I-75 was sentenced to serve more than 17 years in federal prison this week for his crime.
Wesley Bailey, Jr., 32, of Ellenwood and Duluth, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 210 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release by Chief U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell on Dec. 6 after he previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Wesley Bailey created a dangerous situation for the public when he fled police, driving in excess of 140 miles per hour in the rain on a busy highway while directing a passenger to dump a kilo of methamphetamine out of his vehicle,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “I commend the responding local law enforcement agencies for bringing the defendant safely into custody and helping bring a methamphetamine trafficker to justice.”
“I want to commend my deputies for a job well done and thank the United States Attorney’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration for investigating and prosecuting this case,” said Butts County Sheriff Gary Long. “Law enforcement is sending a very strong message that drug traffickers are not wanted in the middle Georgia area to include Butts County and that they will be held accountable and face strong sentences their crimes.”
“Fleeing law enforcement at these ludicrous speeds puts everyone in danger,” said Monroe County Sheriff Brad Freeman. “This defendant was not only putting people at risk when he tried to evade law enforcement, he was attempting to distribute a significant amount of methamphetamine. My hope is that this stiff sentence sends a message to others that would try the same.”
According to court documents, a Butts County Sheriff’s Office deputy attempted to conduct a traffic stop after observing Bailey commit multiple traffic violations on I-75 on April 9, 2019. Bailey first pulled over, then fled police. In rainy conditions, Bailey drove the vehicle in speeds of more than 140 miles per hour, cutting off motorists and passing cars using the emergency lane. At the same time, a Tupperware container containing nearly one kilogram of methamphetamine was thrown out of Bailey’s vehicle. Monroe County Sheriff’s Office deputies joined the pursuit, and Bailey eventually stopped his vehicle in the middle of the interstate, exited the car and was immediately detained. Methamphetamine was found in the car and the Tupperware container contained 811.4 grams of methamphetamine. Bailey admitted that he obtained the methamphetamine from a source in Atlanta and directed his passenger to throw the drugs out of the window during the pursuit.
The case was investigated by the Butts County Sheriff’s Office, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and DEA.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joy Odom prosecuted the case for the Government.