Drug Dealer Sentenced To 8 Years In Federal Prison For Possession With Intent To Distribute 1,980 Grams Of Meth

COLUMBUS – A defendant caught in a drug sting with almost 2,000 grams of methamphetamine and more than $11,000 in cash was sentenced to 96 months in federal prison, said Charles “Charlie” Peeler, the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia. Amber Hass, 30, of Columbus, GA was sentenced to 96 months for Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute by the Honorable Clay D. Land in Columbus federal court. Ms. Hass pled guilty to this charge in November 2018. There is no parole in the federal system.

Agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Columbus Police Department received information regarding a large delivery of meth that would occur near a local restaurant on Bradley Park Drive in Columbus on December 5, 2017. Agents established surveillance in the general vicinity, and monitored Ms. Hass exiting her vehicle, carrying a bag which contained $11,720 and entering a car occupied by co-defendant Maria Lopez, 22, of Atlanta. Ms. Hass admitted that she attempted to exchange the cash for 1,980 grams of meth, which agents found located inside Ms. Lopez’s center console. Ms. Lopez is charged with Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute.

“Methamphetamine is destroying lives in our communities every single day,” said Charles “Charlie” Peeler, the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia. “Ms. Hass was directly involved in distributing an enormous quantity of this illegal drug across the Columbus area, and I am grateful our dedicated law enforcement partners were able to stop this significant drug deal. Our office will continue to stand with law enforcement agents who are putting their lives on the line daily to protect our communities from meth, and the terrible harm this drug creates.”

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Columbus Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melvin Hyde is prosecuting 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.