Leader of Georgia Armed Meth Trafficking Organization Sentenced to 30 Years

ALBANY, Ga. – The incarcerated intermediary between an Atlanta-based Mexican drug cartel supplying methamphetamine into Southwest Georgia and distributors working for him in the region was sentenced to serve three decades in federal prison, resulting from an Operation Take Back America investigation.

Garry Allen Harris, aka “G Money” aka “Gary Cody,” 33, formerly of Albany, was sentenced to serve 360 months in prison to be followed by ten years of supervised release on Oct. 7, after he previously pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on March 25, 2025. The federal sentence will be served consecutively to the terms of imprisonment he is serving in Case No. 15-CR-0058 and Case No. 15-CR-0066 in Worth County, Georgia, Superior Court. There is no parole in the federal system.

“Garry Harris showed no remorse for his crimes, continuing to push drugs, possess weapons and even threaten a co-conspirator twice while behind bars,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “Thanks to the diligent and coordinated efforts of our local, state and federal law enforcement partners, we have successfully dismantled a narcotics pipeline into Southwest Georgia linked to a Mexican cartel and directed by an incarcerated gang member. Under Operation Take Back America, our office will leverage every available resource to seek justice and protect citizens.”

“This 30-year sentence sends a powerful message to those who believe they can profit from poisoning our communities with methamphetamine,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “Our law enforcement partners and agents worked relentlessly to dismantle this operation, and this outcome reflects the serious consequences that await anyone who traffics in this deadly drug.”

The following co-defendants have been convicted in this case:

Wallace Eric Strickland, 41, of Albany, was sentenced to serve 286 months in prison to be followed by ten years of supervised release on Nov. 21, 2024, after he previously pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Aug. 28, 2024;

Niki Lynn Crabtree-Booth, 32, of Albany, was sentenced to serve 148 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release on April 17, after she previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on March 21, 2024;

Aryn Brittany Jones, 32, of Leesburg, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release on May 22, 2024, after she previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Dec. 12, 2023; and

Ryan Daniel Farr, 34, of Leesburg, was sentenced to serve 70 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on June 27, 2024, after he previously pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice on March 20.

Senior U.S. District Judge W. Louis Sands presided over this case.

According to court documents and statements referenced in court, as part of a multi-level investigation into armed drug trafficking in Southwest Georgia with links to a Mexican drug cartel in Atlanta, agents executed court-authorized searches on multiple Facebook accounts and cellphones belonging to the codefendants. Law enforcement first discovered several Facebook communications between Harris and co-defendant Crabtree-Booth in January 2022 discussing illegal drug distribution. Harris, a Georgia Department of Corrections inmate, directed Strickland, Crabtree-Booth, Jones and Farr, along with other unnamed individuals, to obtain or distribute large quantities of illegal drugs. From behind bars, Harris acted as an intermediary between the narcotic dealers and his narcotic supplier, an associate known as “Professor” or “Coach” with ties to a Mexican drug cartel in Atlanta. In all, Harris is being held responsible for distributing 2.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, along with multiple firearms possessed by members of his drug distribution network. Harris has a lengthy criminal history, including convictions possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, robbery by force and illegally possessing firearms. He is a validated member of the Gangster Disciples criminal street gang. For more information about this case, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdga/pr/defendants-sentenced-prison-separate-armed-meth-trafficking-investigations-southwest.

In handing down the sentence, the Court found Harris made credible threats of violence against a co-conspirator and subsequently continued to obstruct justice by threatening the same co-conspirator not to cooperate or testify against him. During the four-day sentencing hearing, the Government called three witnesses and introduced 92 exhibits, showing Harris twice possessed a shank while incarcerated at the Irwin County Jail in December 2023 and May 2024, and he also possessed a contraband cell phone. DEA executed a federal court-authorized search warrant on Harris’s Facebook account in December 2023 and found that he was attempting to distribute narcotics while behind bars; Harris was found in possession of narcotics in June and July 2024. Harris did not receive a sentencing reduction from the Court due to his continued criminal actions after the initial federal offense, as he failed to demonstrate acceptance of responsibility for his crimes.

The collaborative effort 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 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 Lee County Sheriff’s Office, with considerable assistance from the Americus Police Department and the Fitzgerald Police Department.

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

This press release about a case that occurred during the 43-day government shutdown is now available after the return to normal operations.