Ghostface Gangster Leader Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Mexico-Sourced Methamphetamine from a Georgia Prison

ALBANY, Ga. – A high-ranking member of the Ghostface Gangsters (GFG)—a criminal organization founded in the prison system—was sentenced to federal prison today for his role in a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy that was funneling a large amount of Mexico-sourced drugs from behind bars.

Codefendant Donald Jason Miles, aka “Crash,” aka “Cocho,” 39, of Forsyth, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 360 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release on June 24. Miles pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Nov. 13, 2024. There is no parole in the federal system.

Two co-conspirators were sentenced to prison on Feb. 28: Warren Frederick Courts, aka “Dirty,” 38, of Marietta, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 240 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release after he previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Aug. 1, 2024; and Keeli Nycole Wallace, 34, of Covington, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 40 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release after she previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Aug. 14, 2024.

Chief U.S. District Judge Leslie Abrams Gardner presided over the case. There is no parole in the federal system.

“Prison gangs and drug cartels pose a direct threat to the safety of our citizens and will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “Our office is working with law enforcement at every level to identify and bring to justice the most dangerous criminal offenders.”

“The Ghostface Gangsters have systematically worked to flood the communities of Georgia with dangerous drugs,” said GBI Director Chris Hosey. “The brazenness of these gang members to continue their criminal acts even behind bars must be met with decisive action to ensure justice and safety for our communities. This investigation shows that the GBI and our partners will work relentlessly to hold those who seek to poison our communities accountable.”

“This career criminal continued his drug trafficking activities despite being incarcerated, demonstrating his complete and wanton disregard for the safety of our community,” said Jae W. Chung, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “DEA’s efforts in bringing him to justice will ensure this gang member spends even more time in prison.”

According to court documents and statements referenced in court, undercover Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) agents conducted a drug bust at Motel 6 in Albany on Sept. 12, 2022, resulting from a larger investigation into drug trafficking from Georgia prisons. Agents learned Courts, a state prisoner, had arranged a drug transaction from behind bars and hired Wallace as a drug courier to move methamphetamine from a Mexico-based source located in metro Atlanta to Southwest Georgia. Agents arrested Wallace in the parking lot of Motel 6, finding approximately 1,400 grams of methamphetamine and her cell phones.

Investigators discovered that Miles had recruited Wallace as a drug courier several months before her arrest. Wallace admitted she had performed 10-15 deliveries of 250 grams or less of methamphetamine at Miles’s direction. Miles introduced Wallace to Courts; both Miles and Courts are members of the prison-based criminal organization Ghostface Gangsters. Courts is a subordinate of Miles, as demonstrated by Courts giving Miles a portion of the profits he made from selling narcotics. During one transaction, Courts instructed Wallace to obtain methamphetamine from a Mexico-based source of supply near Atlanta and take it to meet a buyer at a Walmart in Albany. The buyer did not show up, and Miles instructed Wallace to return to Atlanta. The next day, Courts told Wallace that the intended buyer was ready. She returned to Motel 6 in Albany, where she was subsequently arrested.

At the time, Miles was incarcerated at Valdosta State Prison, and Courts was incarcerated at Rutledge State Prison for separate drug trafficking offenses. Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) officers searched their prison cells and recovered contraband mobile phones on Sept. 16, 2022. Search warrants were executed on the phones, and investigators discovered detailed communications between Miles, Courts and Wallace related to the drug conspiracy, including communications involving the Mexico-based source of supply and the trafficking of large quantities of methamphetamine. The investigation revealed that Wallace was just one courier recruited by Miles and that Miles and Courts had funneled numerous redistributors to the Mexican source of supply near Atlanta, resulting in the distribution of at least 50 kilograms of methamphetamine in two months as a part of this conspiracy. Of the 50 kilograms distributed, Courts was directly responsible for facilitating the distribution of approximately 13 kilograms.

Both Miles and Courts have lengthy criminal histories, including multiple felony convictions for drug distribution and trafficking. At the time of this offense, Miles was serving state sentences for three separate cases: armed robbery, hijacking a motor vehicle, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm during commission of a felony, and trafficking methamphetamine in Fulton County, Georgia, Case No. 15-SC-132843; conspiracy to commit trafficking in methamphetamine and criminal gang activity in Gwinnett County, Georgia, Case No. 16-B-1793-5; and conspiracy to violate the controlled substances act, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony in Chatham County, Georgia, Case No. CR16-1756. Courts was most recently convicted in the Superior Court of Cobb County, Georgia, on Oct. 1, 2021, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and other transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI).

Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Redavid prosecuted the case for the Government.