At some point he knew about the plan, he agreed to get involved, and he helped out. With the removal of drugs, weapons and money and 12 defendants from the streets, the citizens of Bibb County will be immediately safer., Illegal drugs and illegally possessed firearms have no place in Georgia, said Vic Reynolds, Director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The first element of trafficking involves whether you: The second element involves possessing, manufacturing, delivering, or distributing a certain amount of a drug, which varies between the controlled substances. An official website of the United States government. An official website of the United States government. Both defendants will serve well-deserved time in prison., These sentences represent significant milestones in the prosecution of Operation Ace in the Hole, a multi-agency investigation disrupting a major source of illegal drugs and guns in the greater Toombs County area, said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. Their dedication and complete commitment to their client is beyond reproach. We have successfully represented clients in serious criminal cases across the United States. There are defenses, and there are several that we have used effectively in court when were representing someone charged in a drug conspiracy case. But my client, even though he carried them into Atlanta, even though he flew them back and obviously helped them accomplish their unlawful plan, he didnt know about it. Because of this, many counties have special units dedicated to stopping drug trafficking on the roadways. Finally, challenging an unlawful search or a wiretap. Post Office Box 1702 They are found in the Title 16 Crimes and Offenses Chapter 13 Controlled Substances. In Cobb County, bonds for trafficking range from $65,000 up to $125,000. 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. 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. Obie Wright, 66, of Warner Robins, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and two counts of distribution of cocaine base. 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). 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. Obviously there was an agreement. Initial appearances for the defendants occurred today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Charles H. Weigle. The investigation culminated in a sealed, 61-count federal indictment returned in January 2020 with 26 defendants charged. Those trips that were confirmed using interceptions and/or surveillance. Operation Breaking the Bond is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. Columbus: 706-649-7700. According to the ministry, at the time, that was the largest amount of drugs seized in Georgia. In the first one, they didnt have enough probable cause to get the wiretap. 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. Obtaining legal advice regarding the most current illegal drugs law can potentially save you money and trouble. What usually happens in a Georgia criminal case? Secure .gov websites use HTTPSA lock ( 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. He had been flying two folks from the Mexican border to Atlanta back and forth many times. During December 2018 and January 2019, Duffy sold heroin from a trap house located in an Atlanta apartment. Here is a short video describing drug trafficking laws in Georgia, including some defenses that our firm has used in the past to win these cases at trial or successfully resolve them before they ever get to trial. 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. As announced in a Jan. 11, 2023, multi-agency news conference held at Glynn County Police Department Headquarters [] Disclaimer|Sitemap, Page Pate explains what happens in a federal criminal case Attorney Page Pate explains what happe, The Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act (MDLEA) is a series of federal laws that allow the United, Accountability courts and pretrial diversion allow some people that have been charged with a fede, Earlier this week, a federal district court judge in Atlanta, Georgia sentenced our client to ti, Since the First Step Act of 2018 became law, thousands of federal inmates have been released earl, Investigators in at least one state have sought and received court authorization to wiretap commu. 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 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. And then when they would distribute it in Atlanta, they would load it back up with cash, take it back to the Mexican border. They kept on after the person. Kathy Black, 40, of Macon, pleaded guilty to one count use of a communication facility to facilitate a drug trafficking offense. This case is a direct result of what can be achieved when the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and its law enforcement partners confront, engage and eliminate drug trafficking, said the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division Robert J. Murphy. Drug trafficking laws in Georgia impose mandatory federal minimum sentences if convicted of this crime. Or, in other words, either actual or constructive possession will be enough to establish the possession needed to support a drug trafficking charge. For 200 to 400 grams, the sentence is a minimum of 15 years with a fine of $300,000. There is no parole in the federal system. SE, Suite #417 Marietta, GA 30060, Title 16 Crimes and Offenses Chapter 13 Controlled Substances, Trafficking cocaine: O.C.G.A. We represent clients in Atlanta and throughout the state of Georgia. In other words, marijuana smoke billowing from the window will give law enforcement probable to cause to search. On February 22, 2019, pursuant to a valid federal search warrant, law enforcement searched Duffys narcotics sales location at his Sandy Springs home. The difference between drug trafficking and other drug crimes-such as possession of drugs, distribution of drugs or drug production-is the number of drugs implicated in the offense. The judge may also impose non-monetary restrictions (house arrest, no contact provisions, GPS ankle monitor, curfew, etc . Summerford was sentenced to serve 80 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on March 3, 2021; Courtney Dews, 36, of Macon, pleaded guilty to one count use of a communication facility to facilitate a drug trafficking offense. It doesnt protect you from what you may have done with that group in the past. Adams was sentenced to 165 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, while Jackson was sentenced to 188 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. A total of 76 defendants are named in a newly unsealed federal indictment describing a massive drug trafficking investigation tied to the Ghost Face Gangsters criminal street gang that includes allegations of multiple deaths from illegal drug overdoses. The operation is being investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Bibb County Sheriffs Office Narcotics Unit, the Peach County Sheriffs Office, the Braselton Police Department and the Union City Police Department, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the U.S. If convicted of trafficking in Georgia of 200 grams or more but less than 400 grams, then the punishment range increases. The DEA encourages parents, along with their children, to educate themselves about the dangers of legal and illegal drugs by visiting DEAs interactive websites at www.justhinktwice.com, www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.com, www.campusdrugprevention.org and www.dea.gov. If that is the case, you can work with our law firm, and we can build a defense to help you get a . So its lack of predisposition, and its that second thing, the government conduct. to be charged with drug trafficking. If you have those two elements, then you have an entrapment defense, and its a very effective defense in trial. Trafficking generally includes allegations that an individual possesses, sells, distributes or manufactures a large amount of illegal drugs. 2022 by The Church Law Firm LLC. 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. Marshals Service, and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Look no further then Page Pate and Jess Johnson if you want the best trial lawyers to represent you! You need to consider that in almost any drug case theres usually going to be a search. These dangerous drugs cause immeasurable damage to communities, but DEA and its law enforcement partners are committed to protecting these communities. March 10, 2009 - Regional drug-fighting hub opens in Carrollton. A criminal defense lawyer will have the opportunity to cross-examine the arresting or searching officer, call any witnesses of his own, and tender evidence into the record for the courts consideration. A lock ( They also criminalize the mere possession of larger quantities of certain controlled substances, picking up where O.C.G.A. Jackson faces a maximum 20 years in prison to be followed by at least three years of supervised release and a $1,000,000 fine; and. If the search was conducted pursuant to a warrant, there are three primary ways to attack the lawfulness of the search. If the quantity of marijuana is is more than 10 pounds but less than 2,000 pounds, a person faces a mandatory minimum 5 years imprisonment and a $50,000.00 fine. We get a lot of questions about the entrapment defense. It will serve as a multi-jurisdictional drug enforcement agency controlled by Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Another high-profile case also involving Georgia took place in 2014. Albany: 229-430-7754 In the courtroom theres no doubt that they are accomplished masterful attorneys who represented my son being accused of a criminal crime he did not commit. Want to know how we win appeals in Georgia criminal cases? Second, the sentencing court may use its own discretion to depart from a mandatory minimum sentence if the defendant was not a leader in the drug operation, if the defendant did not possess a weapon, the criminal conduct did not result in a death or serious bodily injury, the defendant has no prior felonies, and the interests of justice will not be served by applying the mandatory minimum sentence. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Official websites use .gov If you are charged with trafficking marijuana in Georgia, and the amount seized was somewhere between 10 pounds and 2,000 pounds, it is a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a $100,000 fine. An individuals home receives greater protection under our Constitution than automobiles. 16-13-30). When trying to obtain a search warrant, law enforcement must prepare a supporting affidavit setting forth all relevant facts. Weve also been successful suppressing wiretaps, and we see wiretaps now in almost every drug case. 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.. The penalty for violating this statute depends on the type, the schedule the drug falls under, and amount of the drug. But those are the basic elements and defenses involved in a federal drug conspiracy charge. 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. Have a question about Government Services? During the search, a Kel-Tec 9mm pistol, 9mm and .40 caliber ammunition, a bag containing small drug baggies and a quantity of suspected narcotics were seized. 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. Manufacture means the production, preparation, compounding, conversion, or processing of a controlled substance by extracting components of a substances natural origin or by chemical synthesis. The Georgia laws on drug trafficking can seem overly complicated, as the penalties for being caught trafficking vary not only on the type of drug but also on the amount and whether you have priors. 16-13-31(b). It is also illegal to manufacture, deliver, distribute, sell, or possess with intent to distribute any controlled substance (with limited exceptions). As a general matter, possession of less than 1 ounce of marijuana is a misdemeanor (O.C.G.A. A total of 60 felony counts are alleged in the indictment. 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. However, if the possession is 4-28 grams or more of opium, heroin, morphine, or several other substances under Schedules I and II, the punishment is much more severe. Drug trafficking is a significant problem in Georgia because it is one of the top five states for illegal drug use. Marietta Office Suites 55 Atlanta St. According to Georgia law, selling drugs or trafficking a controlled substance can result in expensive drug charges that require substantial assistance. The defendants charged in the 24-count indictment, most of whom have made initial court appearances, include: Prentice Bond, a/k/a P, a/k/a Peze, 35, of Macon, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine, Crack and Marijuana; Distribution of Cocaine; two counts of Distribution of 28 Grams or More of Cocaine; Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine, 28 Grams or More of Crack Cocaine, and a Quantity of Marijuana; Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana; Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; and Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises; Travis Robinson, a/k/a T-Roc, 45, of Fairburn, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine, Crack and Marijuana; two counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; two counts of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; and Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises; Xavier Cross, a/k/a Ro, a/k/a Kairo, 45, or Macon, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine, Crack and Marijuana; three counts of Distribution of Cocaine; two counts of Distribution of 28 Grams or More of Cocaine; Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana; Possession with Intent to Distribute 500 Grams or More of Cocaine, and a Quantity of Oxycodone; Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine and Marijuana; two counts of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; two counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; and two counts of Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises; Charles Seang, 28, of Lilburn, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine, Crack and Marijuana; Chester Hall, a/k/a Cheeseburger, a/k/a Cheese, 40, of Macon, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine, Crack and Marijuana; Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana; Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine and Marijuana; Possession with Intent to Distribute 500 Grams or More of Cocaine, and a Quantity of Oxycodone; Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine and Marijuana; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; and Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises; Geneva Harvey, 39, of Macon, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine, Crack and Marijuana; Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana; two counts of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; two counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; and Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises; Shaneka Jackson, 43, of Macon, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine, Crack and Marijuana; Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine, 28 Grams or More of Crack, and a Quantity of Marijuana; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; Rodreco Jones, a/k/a Freako, a/k/a Rico, 39, of Macon, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine, Crack and Marijuana; Earnest Milline, a/k/a Rome, a/k/a Jerome, 62, of Macon, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine, Crack and Marijuana; two counts of Distribution of Cocaine; and Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana; Morgan Allison, 22, of Macon, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine, Crack and Marijuana; Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine; and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; George Leverett, 28, Macon, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine, Crack and Marijuana; and. , Duffy sold heroin from a trap house located in an Atlanta.., picking up where O.C.G.A agency controlled by Georgia Bureau of investigation of! 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