They can make a few phone calls and be part of a drug conspiracy. It is not uncommon for officers to then search the vehicle for contraband. 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. Investigators also seized 39 illegally possessed firearms, ranging from pistols and shotguns to assault-style rifles. If a hearing is requested, the court will set the hearing down to be heard on a specific date. 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. Macon, Georgia 31202-1702, Macon: 478-752-3511 The terms possess, purchase, and deliver all have their ordinary every day meaning. Eight men and four women are charged as part of Operation Breaking the Bond, an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation centered in the Bibb County area, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Sometimes theyll say they had consent to search, the person agreed to it, but they really didnt. We can be grateful that countless individuals have been saved from a drug overdose or a gunshot wound by the work of the law enforcement professionals in this operation., Operation Breaking the Bond is another example of the FBIs willingness to work with our federal, state and local partners to dismantle organizations that endanger our communities, said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. There are several viable defenses available to a person charged with drug possession. A criminal defense lawyer may also challenge the lawfulness of the traffic stop itself. . Federal arrest warrants were executed in Warner Robins, Georgia, and elsewhere, today resulting from a federal indictment returned on Nov. 16, charging the following individuals: 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 . A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Drug trafficking charges in Georgia are a felony. SE, Suite #417 Marietta, GA 30060, Title 16 Crimes and Offenses Chapter 13 Controlled Substances, Trafficking cocaine: O.C.G.A. The lawfulness of such a search depends heavily on how the search is characterized. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS 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. Therefore, you should know what the various categories are and the penalties for each. Dews was sentenced to serve 48 months in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release on March 3, 2021; Patrick Dews, 34, of Macon, pleaded guilty to one count use of a communication facility to facilitate a drug trafficking offense. The following were arrested: Grayling Coley, age 26, of Cordele, Georgia was charged with: Two counts of Trafficking Heroin Two counts of Trafficking Methamphetamine One count of Distribution of Heroin One count of Possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute One count of Possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute The Macon area is much safer because of this operation., This operation demonstrates the hard work and dedication of federal, state, and local law enforcement professionals in interdicting and disrupting the channels of illegal drug distribution in our communities, said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. To put it another way, the officer must have a particularized and objective basis for suspecting the person of criminal activity. Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Also follow DEA Atlanta via Twitter at @DEAATLANTADiv. In most states, the case has to involve more than several pounds of marijuana or an ounce or more of harder drugs (like cocaine, methamphetamine, ecstasy, LSD, etc.) If the search was conducted pursuant to a warrant, there are three primary ways to attack the lawfulness of the search. Tawana Daniels, 40, of Fairburn, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine, Crack and Marijuana; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. 16-13-31(c), Trafficking methamphetamine: O.C.G.A. The most strict penalties for trafficking marijuana, on the other hand, are measured in pounds. In Georgia, a motion to suppress evidence must generally be filed within 10 days after the arraignment date. By removing the most serious charges, you may be able to avoid the harshest sentences. Drug trafficking is a serious criminal charge based on certain quantities of illegal drugs. Another defense, and this is a little more complicated, is that the person may be involved in the drug business, but its a different conspiracy than the one the government has charged him with in the indictment. For any offense after that, you can expect to receive between 10 and 40 years to life in prison. When law enforcement seizes a significant quantity of drugs, its typically the result of a search involving an individuals home or automobile. Read aboutour firms successin Georgia criminal cases. Well, in that case the government may have shown that hes involved in drugs, but hes not a part of that conspiracy. Another high-profile case also involving Georgia took place in 2014. Individuals pulled over in their automobiles during a traffic stop do not enjoy the same level of protection and privacy. Extra to the new charges against these suspected child rapists who frequently hashtagged their social media posts #gayfamily," there are now indications they may have trafficked the young boys to fellow pedophiles. Probable cause to search an automobile exists when the facts and circumstances would lead a reasonably discreet and prudent man to believe that the contents of the vehicle offend the law. As a general matter, possession of less than 1 ounce of marijuana is a misdemeanor (O.C.G.A. A lock ( And then once the government realized that, they dismissed the case. Dews was sentenced to serve 20 months in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release on March 3, 2021; and. 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.. In order to convict somebody in federal court of a drug conspiracy charge, the government has to prove two elements. 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. If a judge signs a warrant not supported by probable cause, the warrant is invalid and the fruits of any search must generally be suppressed. Because there is a larger amount of drugs involved in a trafficking case, drug trafficking charges can carry serious mandatory minimum prison sentences that usually increase with the quantity of the drugs. 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. Drug trafficking is a serious criminal charge based on certain quantities of illegal drugs. Jackson pled guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute More Than 5 Grams of Methamphetamine, and Quantities of Marijuana and Cocaine. If you need the best, then hire the best! The difference between drug trafficking and other drug crimes like drug possession, drug distribution or drug manufacturing is thequantityof drugs involved in the offense. The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Georgia is recused from the case, which is being prosecuted by the Southern District. 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. Ryan Brown handles drug trafficking cases across the state of Georgia. We get a lot of questions about the entrapment defense. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. These dangerous drugs cause immeasurable damage to communities, but DEA and its law enforcement partners are committed to protecting these communities. The stop cannot be arbitrary or harassing. Drug trafficking charges are serious in Georgia and are nearly always prosecuted as a felony offense. The heroine has probably the most unforgiving sentencing scheme. Furthermore, possession of larger quantities of certain types of drugs (such as cocaine, opium, heroin, marijuana, and methamphetamine, to name a few) allows the presumption that the drugs were being trafficked which comes with much harsher punishment. 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. Official websites use .gov "Today, the Justice Department has taken several significant enforcement actions to disrupt large-scale illegal gun and drug . 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. Individuals will face the possibility of federal prosecution when found trafficking large quantities of illegal drugs into the Middle District of Georgia., With the arrest of Duffy, the head of the snake was cut off of this major heroin pipeline that ran from Atlanta to Middle Georgia, said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. If there is 10,000 pounds or more of marijuana, the person faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years imprisonment and a $1 million fine. 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. The following co-defendants have previously pleaded guilty for their crimes in federal court and are awaiting sentencing: Terrance Jackson, 43, of Macon, pleaded guilty to one count conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin. Law enforcement also may not unreasonably prolong a traffic stop beyond the time required to fulfill the purpose of the stop (which is usually the time it takes to issue a citation). 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). On a number of occasions, co-defendants Summerford, Black and Patrick Dews would travel to metro-Atlanta to purchase heroin from Duffy, generally 142 grams on each trip enough heroin to provide more than 1,000 doses. 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. We have successfully represented clients in serious criminal cases across the United States. They dont have a history of it, theres not other evidence to show they were interested in finding out about the drug business. Secure .gov websites use HTTPSA lock ( March 10, 2009 - Regional drug-fighting hub opens in Carrollton. All rights reserved. There are several factors involved. They didnt seal the recordings like they were supposed to. Ive been representing people in federal court over the past 20 years, and Ive handled a lot of federal drug conspiracy cases. They are dangerous and threaten the safety of our communities. Even when a driver consents to his vehicle being searched, it may be possible to challenge the lawfulness of the search. On February 22, 2019, pursuant to a valid federal search warrant, law enforcement searched Duffys narcotics sales location at his Sandy Springs home. But if you have other questions, feel free to give us a call.. 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). With respect to marijuana, it is illegal for a person to possess, have under their control, deliver, distribute, dispense, or possess with intent to distribute marijuana. 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. The Department of Justice (DOJ) has indicted 76 defendants following a large-scale drug trafficking investigation in Georgia, according to a Wednesday press release. While the above-listed sentences are mandatory minimum sentences, there are three different ways a defendant can be sentenced to less than the mandatory minimum. 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 .
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