Georgia Man Sentenced to 135 Months for Drug Conspiracy

Contact Person: Bill Watkins (864) 282-2100

Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that Stedman J. Bates, age 26, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to 135 months for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and marijuana, a violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846. United States District Timothy M. Cain of Anderson sentenced Bates.

The evidence at the change of plea hearing established that Bates owned and operated marijuana grow houses in California. He arranged for large quantities of marijuana to be transported to Georgia for redistribution in South Carolina. In addition, Bates also sold kilogram quantities of powder cocaine and used a stash house in Fountain Inn, South Carolina. Bates used various drug couriers to bring his product from Atlanta to Fountain Inn. Once the couriers had delivered the drugs, they would return to Georgia and turn over the money for the drugs to Bates. Law enforcement estimates that Bates arranged for upwards of 50 kilograms of cocaine to be sold in South Carolina.

The case was investigated by agents the federal Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Bill Watkins of the Greenville office handled the case.