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Press Release

Coffee County Methamphetamine Trafficker Sentenced

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Georgia

G. F. Peterman, III, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, announces that Jose Alberto Sandoval Moya, of Douglas, Georgia was sentenced to serve 240 months in Federal prison for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine weighing more than 50 grams.  The sentence was handed down by Senior United States District Judge W. Louis Sands, Sr. on September 1, 2016 in Albany.

Mr. Moya was convicted of the charge on April 8, 2016 following a five-day jury trial. Evidence presented during trial showed that Mr. Moya conspired together with Raymond Riviera Cortez, also of Douglas, Georgia, and Corrinne Gillis, of Fitzgerald, Georgia, to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. The evidence further revealed that Mr. Moya arranged for Ms. Gillis to travel to Mexico on three occasions to bring methamphetamine to South Georgia for distribution. The conspiracy concluded when Ms. Gillis was arrested at the US/Mexico Border at the Matamoros, Mexico/Brownsville, Texas crossing.  When arrested, Ms. Gillis was in possession of over 17 kilograms (over 43 pounds) of 100% pure methamphetamine, the largest seizure ever made at that point of entry into this country. The drugs had been hidden in the tires of the vehicle in order to smuggle it past authorities at the border.  Each tire contained between 10 and 12 pounds of methamphetamine.

“There is no way to determine how many lives would have been ruined or lost had Mr. Moya succeeded in his scheme to smuggle this record setting load of methamphetamine into this country from Mexico.  He earned and richly deserves the sentence imposed upon him today,” said United States Attorney Peterman.

The case was investigated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Sylvester Regional Office, the Sheriff’s Offices of Ben Hill and Coffee County, Georgia and by Department of Homeland Security. Assistant United States Attorney Leah McEwen prosecuted on behalf of the Government.

Inquiries regarding the case should be directed to Pamela Lightsey, Public Affairs Specialist, United States Attorney’s Office at (478) 621-2603.

Updated September 2, 2016

Topic
Drug Trafficking