Career Offender Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking

ALBANY, Ga. – An Albany resident with a lengthy criminal history, including robbery by force, distribution of controlled substances and making terroristic threats, was sentenced as a federal career offender to serve ten years in prison for trafficking drugs in Southwest Georgia.

Roderick Terrell Ferrell, 37, was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison to be followed by six years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Leslie Gardner on June 25 after he previously pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of cocaine on Oct. 30, 2024. Due to his criminal history, Ferrell was sentenced as a career offender. There is no parole in the federal system.

“Defendants with long criminal records who consistently ignore the law will find their cases in federal court,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “Law enforcement in every community and at every level are collaborating with us to hold repeat offenders accountable for their crimes, with the goal of making our communities safer.”

“Our communities remain under attack by career criminals with no regard for the destruction they cause,” said Jae W. Chung, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “This investigation demonstrates the DEA’s commitment to protecting our community.”

“The FBI is proud to work with our local law enforcement partners in helping to convict these repeat offenders at the federal level, where they face stiffer penalties and no opportunity for parole,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown.

“Eliminating drug trafficking in our communities requires a united front,” said GBI Director Chris Hosey. “The successful convictions of these repeat offenders are a demonstration of the effectiveness of our collaboration across federal, state and local agencies to hold individuals accountable and ensure safer neighborhoods.”

“Career offenders who continue to commit serious crimes in our community, especially those with a history of violence, will face federal prison sentences without parole,” said Lee County Sheriff Reggie Rachals. “I am thankful for our partnerships with federal and state agencies as we work together to hold dangerous individuals accountable.”

According to court documents and statements made public in court, federal, state and local law enforcement received information from various confidential sources that Ferrell was distributing cocaine and was supplied by a metro-Atlanta unnamed co-conspirator. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at another dealer’s residence, seized cocaine, and discovered that Ferrell had sold at least 18 ounces of powder cocaine. Agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office then conducted a controlled buy from Ferrell on Nov. 8, 2021, where Ferrell sold two ounces of powder cocaine for $2,150. In addition, Ferrell reported that he had been pulled over by local law enforcement on Oct. 13, 2022, and was in possession at the time of $30,000 from a recent drug transaction. On Nov. 30, 2023, a patrol officer pulled Ferrell over and found ten pounds of marijuana in ten plastic vacuum-sealed bags in the rear cargo area. Ferrell said he was transporting the drugs to Camilla, Georgia.

The DEA conducted a concealment money laundering investigation and discovered he had laundered approximately $383,057 in drug proceeds between his bank account, CashApp, a local business and a co-conspirator’s accounts from 2021 to 2023, despite having no employment or declaring any income on his taxes. The investigation revealed that Ferrell and his girlfriend used drug proceeds to purchase a 2021 Mercedes Benz GLE; luxury goods from Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton, Saks, Gucci and Balenciaga; took luxury vacations; rented a home near Atlanta; and invested in a local business that was never operational.

At sentencing, Ferrell was held accountable for distributing approximately 6.5 kilograms of cocaine and 47 kilograms of marijuana. Ferrell also has several prior felony convictions including robbery by force, terroristic threats and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute in Dougherty County, Georgia, Superior Court.

The Ferrell case was investigated by the DEA, the FBI, the GBI and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Redavid prosecuted the case for the Government.