Fitzgerald Man Pleads Guilty To Possession With Intent To Distribute Cocaine

ALBANY: Charles E. Peeler, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, announces that Lakevis Woodard, age 31, of Fitzgerald, Georgia pled guilty on June 28, 2018, to Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine Base before U.S. District Court Judge Leslie J. Abrams in Albany, Georgia. The plea subjects Mr. Woodard to a term of imprisonment of up to twenty (20) years, a fine of up to $1 million, or both.

Mr. Woodard admitted the following facts in his guilty plea:

On October 19, 2017, local law enforcement was conducting an authorized roadblock in Ben Hill County, Georgia. Mr. Woodard approached the roadblock and drug agents, who had been receiving information that he was selling drugs in the area, were present. They were also aware that he was on active probation as a result of a Georgia First Offender sentence. A trained drug detection dog alerted on the vehicle for the presence of narcotics. Agents conducted a search of Mr. Woodard’s vehicle and located a Ruger Model 1911 .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol under the driver's seat.

During a subsequent search of Mr. Woodard’s residence, officers located a gallon sized ziplock bag of marijuana and a box containing powder cocaine, crack cocaine, and a set of digital scales. Lab test results from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation determined the presence of 22.625 grams of cocaine base, commonly known as crack” cocaine.

“Our office will continue to work with our state and local law enforcement partners to identify, arrest and prosecute drug dealers throughout the Middle District of Georgia.  I want to thank the Ben Hill County Sherriff’s Office and the Georgia Department of Community Supervision for their excellent work in this matter” said United States Attorney Charles Peeler. 

This case was investigated by the Ben Hill County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia Department of Community Supervision. Assistant United States Attorney Leah E. McEwen is prosecuting the case for the United States.

Questions concerning this case should be directed to Pamela Lightsey, Public Information Officer, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2603.