Major Middle Georgia Methamphetamine Organization Sentenced

MACON: Charles E. Peeler, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, announces that eight defendants were sentenced for their roles in a methamphetamine and marijuana distribution conspiracy on August 28, 2018, before the Honorable Marc T. Treadwell in Macon.  Each defendant had previously entered a guilty plea for his or her individual role in the conspiracy.

Around April 2016, law enforcement began investigating Walter Williams, a/k/a “Bubba,” for distribution of methamphetamine.  During the course of the investigation, agents learned that Mr. Williams was distributing large quantities of methamphetamine from his residence in Lizella, Georgia.  Agents conducted several controlled purchases totaling 553. 77 grams of methamphetamine from Williams at his residence and elsewhere within the Middle District of Georgia.  Agents eventually obtained a court Order to intercept the wire and electronic messages taking place over Mr. Williams’ cellular phones.  Agents intercepted these wire and electronic messages from September 23, 2016, through October 20, 2016.  During this period, the messages and surveillance confirmed that Mr. Williams obtained large quantities of methamphetamine and marijuana from a source of supply in the Atlanta, Georgia area.  Mr. Williams would send a courier to retrieve the methamphetamine and bring it back to his residence.  Mr. Williams would then make contact with his customers who would later arrange to pick up various quantities of methamphetamine and/or marijuana for further distribution.

On October 20, 2016, intercepted communications revealed that Mr. Williams was sending a courier to pick up methamphetamine.  Agents were able to conduct surveillance and observed Mr. Williams’ courier pick up the methamphetamine from a courier for his source of supply in Ellenwood, Georgia.  Upon the courier’s return to Mr. Williams’ residence, agents executed a previously obtained search warrant and seized the methamphetamine that had just been picked up, which was later confirmed to be 2,969.2 grams of d-Methamphetamine Hydrochloride, more commonly referred to as “ice.”  In total, over the course of the investigation, law enforcement seized over 4,685.67 grams of ice from the various defendants in this case.

The following defendants were sentenced on August 28, 2018:

Walter Williams a/k/a “Bubba,” age 40, of Lizella, Georgia

•         Guilty plea entered: December 1, 2017
•         Offense: Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
•         Sentence: 16 years and 8 months imprisonment

Layla Keaney, age 38, of Gray, Georgia

• Guilty plea entered: December 14, 2017
• Offense:  Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
• Sentence: 18 months imprisonment

Bobby Martinez, age 28, of East Point, Georgia

• Guilty plea entered: April 16, 2018
• Offense:  Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
• Sentence:  5 years of probation

Antonio Mendez-Ramos, age 33, of Jonesboro, Georgia and Mexico

• Guilty plea entered:  March 21, 2018
• Offense:  Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
• Sentence:  17 years and 6 months imprisonment

Ruben Perez, age 32 of Covington, Georgia

• Guilty plea entered:  February 27, 2018
• Offense:  Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
• Sentence:  20 years imprisonment

Ashlee Shaw, age 29, of Lizella, Georgia

• Guilty plea entered:  March 20, 2018
• Offense:  Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
• Sentence:  10 years imprisonment

Danna Stokes, age 38, of Bonaire, Georgia

• Guilty plea entered:  February 27, 2018
• Offense:  Use of Communications Facility in Causing or Facilitating the Commission of Felonies Under the Controlled Substances Act
• Sentence:  1 year and 1 day imprisonment

Shana Walker, age 33, of Macon, Georgia

• Guilty plea entered:  December 19, 2017
• Offense:  Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
• Sentence:  8 years and 1 month imprisonment

The following defendants were previously sentenced:

Milton Dobbin Evans, age 66, of Macon, Georgia

• Guilty plea entered:  February 27, 2018
• Offense:  Use of Communications Facility in Causing or Facilitating the Commission of Felonies Under the Controlled Substances Act
• Sentence imposed on:  May 31, 2018
• Sentence:  4 years imprisonment

James Howell, a/k/a “Flip,” age 28, of Macon, Georgia

• Guilty plea entered:  November 20, 2017
• Offense:  Distribution of methamphetamine
• Sentence imposed on:  March 14, 2018
• Sentence:  12 years and 7 months imprisonment

Chadwick Nicholson, age 41, of Lizella, Georgia

• Guilty plea entered:  December 21, 2017
• Offense:  Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana
• Sentence imposed on:  March 14, 2018
• Sentence:  5 years of probation

Another co-defendant, Russell Todd Mathis, was found guilty by a jury of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine on June 6, 2018.  Sentencing for Mathis is currently scheduled for September 19, 2018.

“Methamphetamine continues to be one of the most destructive drugs in our district.  It not only ruins the lives of those who choose to use it and choose to deal it, it also affects families, law enforcement, healthcare providers, governments, and citizens across our district,” said United States Attorney Charles E. Peeler.  “This office, in conjunction with federal and local law enforcement, will not rest until we identify, arrest and prosecute those responsible for spreading this poison.  I want to thank the DEA, GBI, Peach County Sheriff’s Office, Bibb County Sheriff’s Office and Houston County Sheriff’s Office for leading the charge in this matter.”  

“Bubba has been a major supplier in the Middle Georgia area for some time.  It’s good to see local, state and federal law enforcement working together to take someone like him off the streets,” said Peach County Sheriff Terry Deese.  “This might not stop the flow of methamphetamine to this area but it will slow it down for some time.  It will take a while for someone else to come in and set up a network such as the one we have just dismantled.”

“The cocktail of deadly chemicals used to manufacture methamphetamine is a recipe for disaster,” said Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “These substances are not only volatile and toxic, but they also destroy families, communities and lives.  Because of the collective effort between DEA, its local, state and federal law enforcement counterparts and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, these defendants were brought to justice and will no longer be able to distribute this insidious drug.”

“These convictions demonstrate the great work of law enforcement at all levels to investigate and prosecute the distribution of illegal drugs affecting Georgia and our surrounding states. The GBI remains committed to working with our local and federal partners in drug enforcement to address these types of crimes,” stated GBI Director Vernon Keenan.

This case was investigated by the Peach County Sheriff’s Office, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Georgia Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office and Houston County Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth S. Howard handled the prosecution of the defendants who have been sentenced.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Crane is handling the prosecution of Mr. Mathis.   

Questions concerning this release should be directed to Pamela Lightsey, Public Information Officer, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2603 or pam.lightsey@usdoj.gov