Drug Defendants Sentenced

United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, Michael J. Moore, announced the Oct. 15, 2015 sentencing of Roger Ross, age 50 of Miami, Florida and Odell Cleveland, age 47, of Cairo, Georgia. Mr. Ross was sentenced to serve a term of 360 months imprisonment followed by a term of supervised release of 8 years. Mr. Cleveland was sentenced to serve a term of 63 months imprisonment followed by a term of supervised release of 3 years. The two men were convicted of Conspiring to Distribute Cocaine and Crack Cocaine and multiple counts of Using a Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking Activity.

Mr. Ross was determined to be a Career Offender based on his prior convictions for: 1) Possession of Cocaine with the Intent to Distribute on December 20, 1984, in the Superior Court of Thomas County, Georgia; 2) Sale of Cocaine –two counts- on March 30, 1988, in the Superior Court of Grady County, Georgia; 3) Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Cocaine on May 8, 1998, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Miami Division and 4) Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Cocaine Base on July 21, 1999, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia.

“We will continue to use our federal resources to clean up our communities and give drug dealers a new address – the federal prison,” said U.S. Attorney Moore. “These convictions were the result of the strong collaborative efforts of our local, state, and federal agencies. They are to be commended for their good work.”

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Columbus, GA and Miami, FL, the Thomas County Vice/Narcotics Squad, Cairo Police Department, Pelham Police Department and the Georgia State Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leah E. McEwen is prosecuting the case for the Government.        

For additional information, please contact Pamela Lightsey at (478) 621-2603.