Convicted killer gets 30 years for trafficking meth

McALLEN, Texas – A South Carolina man and a Georgia woman have been ordered to prison following their conviction of smuggling drugs through McAllen, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Joseph Gray, Jr., 47, pleaded guilty Sept 12, 2022, to conspiracy to distribute meth, while Jasmine Cecelia Dorsey, 28, entered here plea Feb. 1, 2022, to importing meth.  

Today, U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez a 360-month term of imprisonment for Gray, while Dorsey received 64 months. Gray and Dorsey must also serve five and three years, respectively, of supervised release following the sentences. At the hearing, the court heard Gray’s trafficking organization smuggled drugs throughout parts of the eastern seaboard including Georgia, the Carolinas, New York, Virginia and Washington, D.C.

The court also heard that after Gray was released from state custody for robbing and killing a person and from federal custody for trafficking crack cocaine, he continued to engage in drug trafficking crimes that led to a series of supervised release revocations and an additional drug trafficking conviction. In handing down the prison terms, Judge Alvarez noted that Gray was given many chances to change his life but did not do so.

Two others were previously convicted and sentenced for their role in the conspiracy. Iyana De’Kyra Carter received a 78-month-term of imprisonment, while Keith Anthony Murray was ordered to serve 182 months.

On July 31, 2021, Dorsey and Carter traveled from Mexico and attempted to enter the United States through Hidalgo, Texas, port of entry with approximately 18 kilograms of pure meth concealed in the gas tank.

Further investigation revealed Gray directed Murray to hire drug mules. Dorsey and Carter drove from Atlanta, Georgia, to Monterrey, Mexico, loaded the vehicle with meth and attempted to bring the narcotics back to Georgia for further distribution. Gray coordinated extensively with Mexican and Panama narcotics traffickers to ensure the meth was received safely.

Gray will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Dorsey was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender at a later date.  

Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jongwoo Chung prosecuted the case.