Drug Source Sentenced to 12.5 Years for Interstate Narcotics Conspiracy

       Montgomery, Alabama – Jessie Acosta, 41, of San Pedro, California, was sentenced to 150 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute kilogram quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana throughout the Middle District of Alabama and Georgia, announced U.S. Attorney Louis V. Franklin.  Acosta’s sentencing is the last of a string of convictions that dismantled a sophisticated drug trafficking conspiracy that stretched from San Pedro, California to Alabama and Georgia.

       According to the evidence, the drug conspiracy consisted of 13 co-conspirators (including Jessie Acosta) who agreed to distribute kilogram quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana.  The 13 co-conspirators include:

1. Dywane Lamont Turner, 37, of Smiths Station, Alabama.  Turner was previously sentenced to 235 months in prison.
2. Shauntell Martrece Walker, 28, of Columbus, Georgia.  Walker was previously sentenced to 78 months in prison.
3. RT Ray, 41, of Columbus, Georgia.  Ray was previously sentenced to 63 months in prison.
4. James Wesley Meadows, 48, of Smiths Station, Alabama.  Meadows was previously sentenced to 77 months in prison.
5. Ivan Dewayne Green, 38, of Columbus, Georgia.  Green was previously sentenced to 70 months in prison.
6. Ryan Kendrick Riggs, 35, of Auburn, Alabama.  Riggs was previously sentenced to 92 months in prison.
7. Christopher Bernard Adams, 39, of Columbus, Georgia.  Adams was previously sentenced to 37 months in prison.
8. Robert Williams, Jr., 35, of Smiths, Alabama.  Williams was previously sentenced to 120 months in prisn.
9. Danny Shane Lavender, 31, of Phenix City, Alabama. Lavender was previously sentenced to 15 months in prison.
10. Calvin Ashford, 42, of Columbus, Georgia.  Ashford was previously sentenced to 78 months in prison.
11. Yasmin Jenean Walker, 50, of Columbus, Georgia.  Walker was previously sentenced to 3 months in prison.
12. Melvin John Williams, Jr., 28, of Columbus, Georgia.  Melvin Williams was previously sentenced to 15 months in prison.

       Also sentenced were Jessie Acosta’s brother, Joseph Acosta 30, of San Pedro, California and Vivian Ruvalcaba, 41, of San Pedro, California.  Both Joseph Acosta and Vivian Ruvalcaba were prosecuted for their role in moving drug money between Alabama and California.

       According to U.S. Attorney Franklin, “Friday’s sentencing is a victory for the citizens of Alabama and Georgia.  From California, Mr. Jessie Acosta supplied large quantities of dangerous narcotics to communities in Phenix City, Alabama and Columbus, Georgia.  Mr. Jessie Acosta’s long prison sentence reflects the seriousness of his crimes.  I applaud the efforts of federal, state and local law enforcement in dismantling a sophisticated drug trafficking organization that stretched across the Country.  I have no doubt that Mr. Jessie Acosta never expected to be prosecuted in Alabama.  Drug traffickers everywhere should understand that aggressive drug enforcement may land them in prison far from home – just like Mr. Jessie Acosta.” 

       The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the following agencies: The Elmore County Sheriff’s Office, the Central Alabama Drug Task Force, the Millbrook Police Department, the Eufaula Police Department, the Auburn Police Department, the Lee County Sheriff’s Department, the Russell County Sheriff’s Department, the Columbus, Georgia Police Department, the Alabama Law Enforcement Administration, the Prattville Police Department, the Montgomery Police Department, the Alabama Attorney General’s Office, the Autauga County Sheriff’s Office, the Metro Drug Task Force, the Columbus Georgia Regional Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Troupe County Sheriff’s Office and the Alabama National Guard Counter Drug Unit.

       Assistant United States Attorney Verne H. Speirs prosecuted the case.