MACON, Ga. – A Covington man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for his involvement in a methamphetamine and marijuana distribution conspiracy in Middle Georgia.
More than eight defendants have been convicted and later sentenced for their roles in the conspiracy, Charles E. Peeler, U.S. Attorney for the Middle Georgia District of Georgia, announced in a news release.
Around April 2016, law enforcement began investigating Walter Williams, also known as “Bubba," for distribution of methamphetamine. During the course of the investigation, agents learned Williams was distributing large quantities of methamphetamine from his residence in Lizella.
Agents conducted several controlled purchases totaling 553.77 grams of methamphetamine from Williams at his residence and elsewhere within the Middle District of Georgia.
Agents eventually obtained a court order to intercept the wire and electronic messages taking place over Williams’ cellular phones. Agents intercepted these wire and electronic messages from Sept. 23, 2016, through Oct. 20, 2016. During this period, the messages and surveillance confirmed that Mr. Williams obtained large quantities of methamphetamine and marijuana from a source of supply in the Atlanta area. Williams would send a courier to retrieve the methamphetamine and bring it back to his residence. Williams would then make contact with his customers who would later arrange to pick up various quantities of methamphetamine and/or marijuana for further distribution.
On Oct. 20, 2016, intercepted communications revealed that Mr. Williams was sending a courier to pick up methamphetamine.
Agents were able to conduct surveillance and observed Williams’ courier pick up the methamphetamine from a courier for his source of supply in Ellenwood.
Upon the courier’s return to Williams’ residence, agents executed a previously obtained search warrant and seized the methamphetamine that had just been picked up, which was later confirmed to be 2,969.2 grams of d-Methamphetamine Hydrochloride, more commonly referred to as “ice.” In total, over the course of the investigation, law enforcement seized more than 4,685.67 grams of ice from the various defendants in this case.
Ruben Perez, 32, of Covington, entered a guilty plea Feb. 27 on the charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He was sentenced Aug. 28 to 20 years imprisonment.
Other defendants sentenced Aug. 28, 2018 are as follows:
Walter Williams a/k/a “Bubba,” 40, of Lizella
Guilty plea entered: Dec. 1, 2017
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine
Sentence: 16 years and eight months imprisonment
Layla Keaney, 38, of Gray
Guilty plea entered: Dec. 14, 2017
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine
Sentence: 18 months imprisonment
Bobby Martinez, 28, of East Point
Guilty plea entered: April 16, 2018
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine
Sentence: five years of probation
Antonio Mendez-Ramos, 33, of Jonesboro and Mexico
Guilty plea entered: March 21, 2018
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine
Sentence: 17 years and six months imprisonment
Ashlee Shaw, 29, of Lizella
Guilty plea entered: March 20, 2018
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine
Sentence: 10 years imprisonment
Danna Stokes, 38, of Bonaire
Guilty plea entered: Feb. 27, 2018
Offense: Use of communications facility in causing or facilitating the commission of felonies under the Controlled Substances Act
Sentence: one year and one day imprisonment
Shana Walker, 33, of Macon
Guilty plea entered: Dec. 19, 2017
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine
Sentence: 8 years and one month imprisonment
The following defendants were previously sentenced:
Milton Dobbin Evans, 66, of Macon
Guilty plea entered: Feb. 27, 2018
Offense: Use of communications facility in causing or facilitating the commission of felonies under the Controlled Substances Act
Sentence imposed: May 31, 2018
Sentence: four years imprisonment
James Howell, a/k/a “Flip,” 28, of Macon
Guilty plea entered: Nov. 20, 2017
Offense: Distribution of methamphetamine
Sentence imposed: March 14, 2018
Sentence: 12 years and seven months imprisonment
Chadwick Nicholson, 41, of Lizella
Guilty plea entered: Dec. 21, 2017
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute marijuana
Sentence imposed: March 14, 2018
Sentence: five years of probation
Another co-defendant, Russell Todd Mathis, was found guilty by a jury of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on June 6. Sentencing for Mathis is currently scheduled for Sept. 19.
“Methamphetamine continues to be one of the most destructive drugs in our district. It not only ruins the lives of those who choose to use it and choose to deal it, it also affects families, law enforcement, health care providers, governments, and citizens across our district,” Peeler said. “This office, in conjunction with federal and local law enforcement, will not rest until we identify, arrest and prosecute those responsible for spreading this poison. I want to thank the DEA, GBI, Peach County Sheriff’s Office, Bibb County Sheriff’s Office and Houston County Sheriff’s Office for leading the charge in this matter.”
“’Bubba’ has been a major supplier in the Middle Georgia area for some time. It’s good to see local, state and federal law enforcement working together to take someone like him off the streets,” Peach County Sheriff Terry Deese said. “This might not stop the flow of methamphetamine to this area but it will slow it down for some time. It will take a while for someone else to come in and set up a network such as the one we have just dismantled.”
“The cocktail of deadly chemicals used to manufacture methamphetamine is a recipe for disaster,” Robert J. Murphy, special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration Atlanta Field Division, said. “These substances are not only volatile and toxic, but they also destroy families, communities and lives. Because of the collective effort between DEA, its local, state and federal law enforcement counterparts and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, these defendants were brought to justice and will no longer be able to distribute this insidious drug.”
“These convictions demonstrate the great work of law enforcement at all levels to investigate and prosecute the distribution of illegal drugs affecting Georgia and our surrounding states. The GBI remains committed to working with our local and federal partners in drug enforcement to address these types of crimes,” Georgia Bureau of Investigations Director Vernon Keenan said.
This case was investigated by the Peach County Sheriff’s Office, DEA and GBI with the assistance of the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office and Houston County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth S. Howard handled the prosecution of the defendants who have been sentenced. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Crane is handling the prosecution of Mathis.
