There are several factors involved. Well, if its this broad, you wonder, Are there any defenses to it? Because it is very broad under federal law. A criminal defense lawyer may attack: 1) the information used to procure the warrant; 2) the specificity of the warrant; and 3) the search itself. There are defenses, and there are several that we have used effectively in court when were representing someone charged in a drug conspiracy case. 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. 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. For instance, the driver may grant permission for the officer to search the vehicles trunk. They didnt seal the recordings like they were supposed to. 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 . The Department of Justice (DOJ) has indicted 76 defendants following a large-scale drug trafficking investigation in Georgia, according to a Wednesday press release. We get a lot of questions about the entrapment defense. This case is an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation conductedby Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives (ATF), United States Marshals Service (USMS), the Monroe County Sherriffs Office, the Bibb County Sherriffs Office, and the Warner Robins Police Department. 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. to be charged with drug trafficking. A locked padlock These violent, gang-related drug dealers can no longer peddle poison in Vidalia, Ga., and the surrounding community, said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Atlanta Field Division. The difference between possession or selling methamphetamine from trafficking methamphetamine is the amount of drugs. A person convicted of possessing a drug in Schedule III, IV, or V may be imprisoned for 1 to 5 years. Our lawyers are licensed to practice in all state and federal courts in Georgia. Domestic Cannabis Suppression / Eradication Program, Red Ribbon Toolkit - Resources For Your Community, DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, Intelligence Research Specialist Job Announcements, Schedule A Hiring Authority: Intelligence Research Specialist, Privacy Impact Assessment and Management Information Systems, Victim Witness Assistance Program Resources. A driver who exhibits nervousness, however, is generally not enough to establish probable cause. An official website of the United States government. A total of 60 felony counts are alleged in the indictment. 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. If you are convicted of trafficking an amount of cocaine between 28 and 200 grams, the sentence can be ten to thirty years in the state penitentiary and a fine of $200,000. If the search is characterized as an inventory search, the state must establish (among other things) that the search was conducted in accordance with that police departments policies regarding impounding vehicles and that the search was not simply a fishing expedition to find possible contraband. 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. 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. The punishment for trafficking or distributing drugs in any of these schedules is 1 to 10 years imprisonment. However, the quantity of marijuana being trafficked impacts the penalties, and even affects parole guidelines. A person convicted of manufacturing, delivering, distributing, selling or possessing with intent to distribute a Schedule I or Schedule II drug may be punishment by 5 to 30 years imprisonment if it is the persons first offense. 16-13-2). The first element is that there is an agreement to violate the drug laws, and that sounds pretty simple. Post Office Box 1702 Individuals pulled over in their automobiles during a traffic stop do not enjoy the same level of protection and privacy. 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. So its lack of predisposition, and its that second thing, the government conduct. The following co-defendants have previously pleaded guilty for their crimes in federal court and have been sentenced for their crimes: Chad Bresach, 38, of Eatonton, Georgia, pleaded guilty to one count distribution of heroin. The judge may also impose non-monetary restrictions (house arrest, no contact provisions, GPS ankle monitor, curfew, etc . 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. Obviously there was an agreement. They tried to get me involved in this conspiracy. The entrapment defense is a very effective defense when its used the right way and by a lawyer who knows what he or she is doing. 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. 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. A locked padlock Operation Ace in the Hole, whose name was derived from Adams alias, was an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation initiated in August 2018 in response to increasing levels of gang violence and drug-related activities in the Vidalia area. Another defense is that there is no knowledge of the agreement. SE, Suite #417 Marietta, GA 30060, Title 16 Crimes and Offenses Chapter 13 Controlled Substances, Trafficking cocaine: O.C.G.A. 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. Kathy Black, 40, of Macon, pleaded guilty to one count use of a communication facility to facilitate a drug trafficking offense. Gps ankle monitor, curfew, etc we were able to show the government that there is an agreement violate... 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