The distribution of dangerous substances like, cocaine, crack, and marijuana continue to plague many communities. Heroin, morphine, and opium, however, can be harshly penalized for a mere four grams. 16-13-30). If a hearing is requested, the court will set the hearing down to be heard on a specific date. They had a medical practice, they were prescribing drugs, but it wasnt unlawful. The operation, which started in mid-2019, targeted sources of illegal drugs brought into and distributed in the Macon area, and led to a series of searches in which large amounts of cocaine, crack cocaine, oxycodone, and marijuana were seized, along with nearly $97,000 in cash, a machine for pressing kilo-sized bricks of cocaine, money counters, scales, and drug packaging materials. Similarly, these numbers will also go up for every amount over 2,000 pounds. We dont think these people really need it, and so you violated the federal drug laws. Well, we were able to show the government that there was no unlawful agreement. They didnt seal the recordings like they were supposed to. They are complete masters of their knowledge of the law and understanding the court system while providing the top investigative team and forensic technology with a top notch administrative staff. A controlled substance is a drug, an immediate precursor or essential compound used to make a drug, or marijuana. Anderson faces a maximum sentence of four years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Our firm has offices inAtlanta GA and Brunswick GA, and we frequently travel to other courts across the state to represent people in serious criminal cases. They dont have to show that a person even had drugs. In most states, such as Georgia, in order to be charged with drug trafficking, the case must involve more than several pounds of marijuana or an ounce or more . In order to convict somebody in federal court of a drug conspiracy charge, the government has to prove two elements. Although all trafficking charges are somewhat dependent on the amount involved, according to the Georgia marijuana law, the amounts that result in significant penalties are much larger than other drugs. The wiretap investigation ultimately led to the discovery of Duffy being the source of heroin supply. What is Drug Trafficking? Horrific new details have emerged in the case of the LGBT activist couple arrested in Georgia this past summer on suspicion of using their two adopted children to make child porn.. If convicted of trafficking in Georgia of 200 grams or more but less than 400 grams, then the punishment range increases. The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Georgia is recused from the case, which is being prosecuted by the Southern District. Including Adams, Jackson, and Toussaint, 22 of the 26 defendants have entered guilty pleas; 12 of them have been sentenced, with terms of up to 141 months in prison. Now notice whats missing here. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. . The first obvious defense is that theres no unlawful agreement. WAYCROSS, Ga. (WALB) - 76 drug traffickers were named in Operation Ghost Busted, the largest drug trafficking investigation in the Southern District of Georgia, on Jan. 11. The first element is that there is an agreement to violate the drug laws, and that sounds pretty simple. Antoine Riley, 44, of Warner Robins, is charged with one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, one count of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon, one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, one count of distribution of cocaine base, one count of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and one count of possession of cocaine base with intent to distribute; Antonio Raines, 37, of Warner Robins, is charged with one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, one count of distribution of cocaine base and one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute; Latanya Williams, 39, of Warner Robins, is charged with one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, one count of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and one count of possession of cocaine base with intent to distribute; Brittany Smith, 28, of Warner Robins, is charged with one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute; Emanuel Ivey, 35, of Warner Robins, is charged with one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and one count of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute; Armard Davis, 42, of Warner Robins, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute; Joseph Day, 48, of Warner Robins, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and one count of distribution of cocaine base; Desmond Griffin, 29, of Warner Robins, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and one count of distribution of cocaine base; and. Lock Each drug case has a unique set of facts, and whether the search that resulted in the drugs was lawful depends almost entirely on those facts. Ryan Brown handles drug trafficking cases across the state of Georgia. MACON, Ga. Nine individuals were taken into custody today and are facing federal charges from an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation ledby the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) into a group of alleged drug traffickers in Houston and Bibb Counties. As a general rule, probable cause is determined by the totality of the circumstances. Duffy faces a maximum 20 years in prison to be followed by at least three years of supervised release and a $1,000,000 fine. Jackson pled guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute More Than 5 Grams of Methamphetamine, and Quantities of Marijuana and Cocaine. They have evidence that an individual is involved in the drug business, but they have charged him with a bunch of people that he didnt know. If, for example, law enforcement detained a driver accused of speeding for an hour simply to wait on the arrival of a drug sniffing dog, the court would likely find such prolonged detention to be unlawful. In some cases, the information submitted to the judge will be incomplete, false, stale, or obtained through unreliable sources. Official websites use .gov However, for small amounts of marijuana, or if your trafficking case is reduced to possession, you may be able to get your charges reduced to a misdemeanor. So its lack of predisposition, and its that second thing, the government conduct. According to the ministry, at the time, that was the largest amount of drugs seized in Georgia. Its just this agreement, and then knowing about the agreement, saying, I wanna be a part of it. The person can drive a car and be part of a drug conspiracy. Drug trafficking charges are serious in Georgia and are nearly always prosecuted as a felony offense. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS It is a Schedule I drug, considered the most dangerous with no medicinal value. The investigation culminated in a sealed, 61-count federal indictment returned in January 2020 with 26 defendants charged. For 200 to 400 grams, the sentence is 15 to 30 years with a fine of $300,000. Kathy Black, 40, of Macon, pleaded guilty to one count use of a communication facility to facilitate a drug trafficking offense. watch thisvideo. If convicted of a second or subsequent offense, he may be imprisoned for 10 to 40 years. You can also be charged with trafficking if you bring a large enough amount of a controlled substance from another country or state. We will continue to work diligently along with our local and federal partners to investigate and dismantle drug trafficking organizations., These sentences reinforce our strong commitment to dismantle gangs that plague our communities with drugs, guns and violence, and threaten the safety of the citizens who live in them, said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. That means the State of Georgia applies a federal mandatory minimum sentence when it comes to drug crimes. Nathaniel Ripley, 41, was sentenced Wednesday, Jan. 4, by . By Page Pate. Albany: 229-430-7754 Attorneys Joseph McCool. Punishment for possessing or distributing Schedule I drugs is the most severe. MACON, Ga. The primary supplier of a heroin distribution ring operating between Atlanta and Macon, which funneled up to 30,000 doses of heroin into the region over a three month span, pleaded guilty to his crime in federal court. Operation Breaking the Bond is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. Toombs County residents can take comfort in these two sentences, and many more to follow, that will keep this predatory gang off their streets.. The punishment for a controlled substance offense depends on whether the drug was only possessed or if it was manufactured or distributed, type of substance, and the weight of the substance. It is not uncommon for officers to then search the vehicle for contraband. It's free to sign up and bid on jobs. A West Liberty-are man sentenced to prison for drug trafficking was among the cases handled recently in Logan County Common Pleas Court. The answer is that it varies because Georgia sets different limits for different categories of drugs, and they are not always the same for individual schedules. The penalties for drug trafficking vary depending on the type of drug, the weight of the drugs, and whether it was a first or repeated offense. A lock ( The charges of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and possession of cocaine base with intent to distribute each carry a mandatory minimum sentence of five years up to a maximum sentence of 40 years and a $5,000,000 fine. The judge may also impose non-monetary restrictions (house arrest, no contact provisions, GPS ankle monitor, curfew, etc . And so, while he actually helped them commit the offense, he wasnt aware of the unlawful plan,. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. 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 Justices violent crime reduction efforts. Georgia drug trafficking laws regulate the manufacture, distribution, delivery, and sale of controlled substances. MACON, Ga. - The primary supplier of a heroin distribution ring operating between Atlanta and Macon, which funneled up to 30,000 doses of heroin into the region over a three month span, pleaded guilty to his crime in federal court. 16-13-31 (c), a person commits the offense of Trafficking in Marijuana when he or she sells, manufactures, grows, delivers, brings into this state, or has possession of a quantity of marijuana exceeding ten pounds. And then once the government realized that, they dismissed the case. Let our team of Newnan drug trafficking lawyers help you through this difficult time. This case is the product of a concerted collaborative effort on the part of ATF and its local partners to target, investigate, and eliminate the perpetrators of violent crime, said Beau Kolodka, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). According to Georgia law, selling drugs or trafficking a controlled substance can result in expensive drug charges that require substantial assistance. Attorneys Noah J . Even when a driver consents to his vehicle being searched, it may be possible to challenge the lawfulness of the search. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert McCullers is prosecuting the case. Macon, Georgia 31202-1702, Macon: 478-752-3511 Another high-profile case also involving Georgia took place in 2014. If a person is convicted of drug trafficking, he or she may face spending years in prison, having valuable assets taken away, and paying hefty fines, all in addition to having his or her own personal reputation and relationships compromised. As outlined below, Georgia law defines both these controversial elements very broadly in trafficking matters. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Serving clients across the United States In December 2017, following the arrest of a heroin dealer in Macon, federal and local law enforcement began investigating heroin distribution by co-defendant Summerford. He was simply told that what was in the duffel bags had to do with their work, was never given any indication that those duffel bags contained drugs. Their dedication and complete commitment to their client is beyond reproach. Because this analysis is subject to change depending upon recent cases and legal developments, you should not rely on this summary as legal advice. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Kalim is prosecuting the case. If you have been charged with a serious drug offense in Atlanta, or anywhere else in Georgia, it is imperative that you retain an aggressive Atlanta criminal defense attorney experienced in filing and arguing motions to suppress evidence. Even though a judge signed off on it, the judge that handled the case said, I dont think there was sufficient probable cause here. They suppressed the wiretaps, they couldnt use them in trial. Official websites use .govA .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. If you live in the state of Georgia, you are probably familiar with many of the controlled substance regulations, but if you are visiting or passing through, you should have a basic understanding of the Georgia drug trafficking laws. What is a drug conspiracy? POMEROY The Meigs County Sheriff's Department made two arrests in regards to the trafficking of illegal narcotics Sunday evening. According to Georgia Code 16-13-31 and 16-13-31.1, the following is considered drug trafficking: However, the penalties vary depending on the type and quantity of the substance. If you are facing drug trafficking charges, a felony lawyer is a wise choice to ensure you receive no more than the mandatory minimum sentences in sentencing court or your case is dismissed. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. What usually happens in a Georgia criminal case? In many consent cases, an officer will exceed the scope of the drivers consent. This affidavit is then submitted to the judge for his or her consideration. Georgia drug trafficking laws punish those who break the law and keep society safe. BEST IN TOWN! The lawfulness of such a search depends heavily on how the search is characterized. A person, if convicted, who purchases or possesses either a Schedule I or narcotic Schedule II drug is guilty of a felony and may be punished by imprisonment for 1-3 years (if less than 1 gram), 1-8 years (if more than 1 gram but less than 4 grams), or for 1-15 years (if more than 4 grams but less than 28 grams). They are dangerous and threaten the safety of our communities. When not actively working cases, I review cases to ISO 17025 and ANAB standards; repair and coordinate shipment of equipment to the downrange labs; review policies, guidance, and procedures . At some point after the arraignment the State will provide the defendants lawyer with the discovery in the case. The difference between drug trafficking and other drug crimes like drug possession, drug distribution or drug manufacturing is thequantityof drugs involved in the offense. We have successfully represented clients in serious criminal cases across the United States. It will serve as a multi-jurisdictional drug enforcement agency controlled by Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Therefore, you should know what the various categories are and the penalties for each. The following were arrested: Grayling Coley, age 26, of Cordele, Georgia was charged with: Two counts of Trafficking Heroin Two counts of Trafficking Methamphetamine One count of Distribution of Heroin One count of Possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute One count of Possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute For 14 to 28 grams, you can receive a sentence of ten years and a fine of $100,000. The people that he was carrying into Atlanta had large duffel bags with them, and it turns out they had a lot of cocaine in those duffel bags. Due to the superb work of Page and Jess, the charges were dropped. Many Georgia drug trafficking cases originate on the highways. If you are convicted of moving 10,000 pounds or more, you face a sentence of at least fifteen years and a fine of million dollars ($1,000,000). ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. First, the District Attorney can file a motion asking the sentencing court to reduce or suspend a sentence if the defendant provides substantial assistance in the identification, arrest, or conviction of any other individuals involved in the drug operation. Nine defendants are among those facing federal charges including illegal possession of firearms after separate indictments by a grand jury in the Southern District of Georgia, while recent actions in Middle District of Georgia You know, The government came after me. When the government charges someone, they draft an indictment, and thats agreed to by the grand jury, and then the government is stuck with that document. U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell is presiding over the hearings. Obviously there was an agreement. During December 2018 and January 2019, Duffy sold heroin from a trap house located in an Atlanta apartment. The number of illegally possessed firearms seized in this case also provides a glimpse into the dangerous underworld of narcotics trafficking.. In Georgia, a motion to suppress evidence must generally be filed within 10 days after the arraignment date. We are lawyers who are committed to helping people in difficult situations and we invite you to call us at 404-551-5684 for a free consultation today. The punishment for trafficking or distributing drugs in any of these schedules is 1 to 10 years imprisonment. If the search was done incident to the arrest, the officer must have had a reason to believe that there was evidence in the vehicle relating to the crime for which the driver was arrested. We will forever be grateful to them for all their hard work, compassion and dedication. 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