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Press Release

Convicted By Jury, Two Defendants Sentenced To Prison On Multiple Drug-Related Charges

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

ALBANY – Two defendants found guilty by a citizen jury on multiple drug related charges earlier this year were sentenced today by a federal judge, said U.S. Attorney Charles “Charlie” Peeler. Thyrone Jones, 44, of Pelham, GA was convicted on eight counts of Distribution of Cocaine and one count of Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute following a three day trial that began on March 18, 2019. His co-defendant, Kareda McGee, 31, also of Pelham, GA, was convicted on two counts of Distribution of Cocaine and one count of Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute. The jury deliberated for approximately 90 minutes before returning a guilty verdict on all charges. Tuesday afternoon, The Honorable Leslie Gardner sentenced Mr. Jones to 240 months imprisonment plus nine years supervised release and Ms. McGee to 21 months to serve consecutive to any probation revocation imposed by Mitchell County Superior Court for her 2015 conviction for Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute. Mr. Jones has a prior federal conviction for Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute. There is no parole in the federal system.

According to the facts presented at trial, Mr. Jones sold various amounts of cocaine to confidential informants under surveillance on eight separate occasions from February 2018 to July 2018, all within Pelham city limits. Ms. McGee was involved in the illegal transactions during three of those sales. When a search warrant was executed in July 2018 at the residence shared by Mr. Jones and Ms. McGee, Pelham Police found more than $15,000 in cash, quantities of cocaine and a set of digital scales, along with multiple text messages requesting illegal drugs.

“Today’s sentencing shows that drug dealers who continue to endanger the public will face serious federal prison time in Middle Georgia” said Charlie Peeler, the U.S. Attorney. “I want to commend the Pelham Police Department, and thank those officers for their commitment to making their hometown a safer place for people to live and work.”

The case was investigated by the Pelham Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leah McEwen prosecuted the case for the Government. Questions can be directed to Pamela Lightsey, Public Information Officer, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2603 or Melissa Hodges, Public Affairs Director (Contractor), United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 765-2362.

Updated July 10, 2019

Topic
Drug Trafficking