Final Defendant Sentenced In Dodge County Area Drug Trafficking Organization

DUBLIN, GA – Dwight Eady, 31, of Milan, Georgia was sentenced earlier this month by Senior United States District Court Judge Dudley Bowen to 70 months in prison for his role in a cocaine trafficking organization operating out of Dodge, Telfair, and Laurens Counties, Georgia, and elsewhere.  Eady was the twenty-first and final defendant to be sentenced for his role in the drug ring.  A list of others convicted and sentenced in the case is included below.

Evidence presented during numerous guilty plea and sentencing hearings revealed that Nico Harswell, a co-defendant of Eady, supplied multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine to various individuals in the Telfair, Laurens, and Dodge County area between 2010 and 2012.  Several federal wiretaps were obtained which helped identify the members of the drug conspiracy and led to the seizure of a significant amount of cocaine and over $60,000 in cash.  Additionally, several vehicles were seized and forfeited.

United States Attorney Edward J. Tarver stated, “This case provides another example of the outstanding results achieved when federal and state law enforcements partner together to investigate and prosecute large-scale drug trafficking organizations.  If you push poison in our communities, you can expect to spend years in a federal prison.”

The case was investigated by the DEA, the Oconee Drug Task Force, the Telfair County Sheriff’s Office, and the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Georgia State Patrol and the United States Marshal’s Service.  Assistant United States Attorneys Charlie Bourne and Greg Gilluly prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.  For additional information, please contact First Assistant United States Attorney James D. Durham at (912) 201-2547. 

The defendants convicted and sentenced in the case are:

Nico Harswell, 40, of Rentz, Georgia
210 months / 5years supervised release / $2500 fine

Ronald Harell, 37, of Helena, Georgia
188 months / 5 years supervised release / $2000 fine

James Austin, 31, of McRae, Georgia
151 months / 5 years supervised release / $1500 fine

Stephin White, 52, of McRae, Georgia
124 months / 5 years supervised release / $1500 fine / 40 hours community service

Deandre Graham, 28, of McRae, Georgia
38 months / 5 years supervised release / $1000 fine / 40 hours community service

Kemo Pauldo, 35, of Dublin, Georgia
70 months / 5 years supervised release / $2000 fine / 40 hours community service

Melvin Hughes, 34, of McRae, Georgia
168 months / 5 years supervised release / $2000 fine

Brandon Woods, 23, of Dublin, Georgia
90 months / 5 years supervised release / $3000 fine

James Harswell, 33, of Dublin, Georgia
64 months / 5 years supervised release / $2000 fine

Shonta Burney, 39, of Rentz, Georgia
37 months / 5 years supervised release / $2000 fine

Kendya Hughes, 33, of McRae, Georgia
32 months / 1 year supervised release / $200 special assessment

Cynthia Reynolds, 34, of Jacksonville, Georgia
18 months / 1 year supervised release

Jimmy Tucker, 43, of Laurens County, Georgia
30 months / 5 years supervised release / $1000 fine / 40 hours community service

Antonio Smiley, 35, of Hinesville, Georgia
120 months / 5 years supervised release / $2000 fine

Johnny Fabian, 60, of Ludowici, Georgia
45 months / 5 years supervised release for each count / $1000 fine / $200 special assessment

Gary Duty, 39, of Dublin, Georgia
48 months / 1 year supervised release / $200 special assessment

Tron Baker, 34, of Hinesville, Georgia
27 months / 5 years supervised release / $1500 fine / 40 hours community service

Robert Nico Perry, 33, of Glenwood, Georgia
36 months / 1 year supervised release

Chad Mitchell, 33, of Eastman, Georgia
180 months / 5 years supervised release / $3500 fine

Gary Wesley, 40, of Helena, Georgia
57 months / 5 years supervised release / $1000 fine