A Georgia inmate and member of the Sureños criminal gang who was
brokering the distribution of at least 250 kilograms of methamphetamine along
with other controlled substances like heroin and fentanyl from behind bars was
sentenced to serve more than 30 years in prison for his crimes.
Pedro Barragan
Valencia aka “Casper” aka “Bossman,” aka “Mexican Hitman Pete,” 46, of Calhoun,
Georgia, was sentenced to serve 400 months in prison to be followed by five
years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Leslie Gardner on Dec. 12.
Valencia pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute
controlled substances on June 7. Valencia is not eligible for parole.
“Pedro Valencia
directed the distribution of at least 250 kilograms of methamphetamine from behind
bars to an armed drug trafficking organization pushing these highly addictive
and deadly drugs in Georgia,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “This
dangerous drug trafficking organization was dismantled because of the
collaboration of federal, state and local law enforcement dedicated to stopping
criminals from harming our communities.”
“This
conviction serves to put criminals on notice that if you bring illegal drugs
into our communities, we will employ whatever means necessary to find you and
bring you to justice no matter where you are,” said FBI Atlanta Supervisory
Senior Resident Agent of the Macon Office Robert Gibbs. “This prosecution
closes a significant pipeline for dangerous drugs running through the streets
of Georgia. We are grateful to the many law enforcement agencies whose
coordinated efforts achieved this sentence.”
“This
successful investigation and prosecution is the result of many law enforcement
agencies dedicated to securing our communities; we are grateful for the
collaboration and hopeful it will make a difference,” said Upson County Sheriff
Dan Kilgore.
According to
court documents, FBI was investigating co-defendant Cornelius Leonard aka
“Tae,” 29, of Grantville, Georgia, for leading an armed drug distribution
organization in late 2021 and early 2022, having made four controlled purchases
of methamphetamine from Leonard during that time period. The investigation led
to multiple wiretaps on Leonard’s phones. Through these wiretaps, law
enforcement agents learned that Leonard was conspiring with Valencia—who was an
inmate at Calhoun State Prison—to acquire large quantities of methamphetamine,
heroin, fentanyl and other illegal drugs for distribution in Thomaston and
Columbus along with other Georgia cities. Valencia supplied Leonard with at
least 250 kilograms of methamphetamine.
The
following co-defendant is awaiting sentencing:
Cornelius
Leonard aka “Tae,” 29, of Grantville, Georgia, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy
to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances; one count of
distribution of methamphetamine; and one count of conspiracy to tamper with a
witness and is facing a maximum of life in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for
March 24, 2024.
The
following co-defendants have been sentenced:
Ramone Zorn aka
“Big Razor,” 53, of Thomaston, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 300 months in
prison after he pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine;
Kedric Fuller
aka “Blakk Ru,” 43, of Woodbury, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 180 months in prison
after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute
controlled substances;
Horatio Venable
aka “Ray Ray,” 26, of Columbus, was sentenced to serve 144 months in prison after
he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute
methamphetamine;
Markevious
Snipes aka “Big Dawg,” 32, of Thomaston, was sentenced to serve 136 months in prison
after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute
methamphetamine;
Mechile Hobbs,
49, of Thomaston, was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison after he pleaded guilty
to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; Darius Wellmaker, 40,
of Thomaston, was sentenced to serve 90 months in prison after he pleaded guilty
to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine;
Joshua McAfee,
36, of Thomaston, was sentenced to serve 50 months in prison after he pleaded guilty
to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances;
Rashard
Moreland, 38, of Columbus, was sentenced to serve 40 months in prison after he
pleaded guilty to use of a telecommunications facility in furtherance of a drug
trafficking crime;
Antovious
Hunter aka “Ant,” 41, of Columbus, was sentenced to serve 37 months in prison
after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute
methamphetamine;
Dustin Robbins,
34, of Columbus, was sentenced to serve 36 months in prison after he pleaded guilty
to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine;
Sabrina Smith,
34, of Thomaston, was sentenced to serve 24 months in prison after she pleaded guilty
to distribution of methamphetamine;
Natashia
Antley, 36, of Thomaston, was sentenced to serve 18 months in prison after she
pleaded guilty to use of a communication facility;
Nehemiah
Johnson, 30, of Thomaston, was sentenced to serve 18 months in prison after he pleaded
guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine;
Jennifer Moss,
39, of Molena, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 18 months in prison after she pleaded
guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine;
Dixie Bailey,
34, of Thomaston, was sentenced to time served after she pleaded guilty to conspiracy
to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine;
Mark Dean, 45,
of Manchester, Georgia, was sentenced to time served after he pleaded guilty to
conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine;
Ashley Ingram,
37, of Cataula, Georgia, was sentenced to time served after she pleaded guilty
to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine;
Krystal Juarez
Norman, 34, of Thomaston, was sentenced to time served after she pleaded guilty
to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin;
S. Carlton
Power, 27, of Manchester, Georgia, was sentenced to time served after he
pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute
methamphetamine; and
D. Justin
Whitten, 37, of Hogansville, Georgia, was sentenced to time served after he
pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute
methamphetamine.
This effort is
part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF
identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations
that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven
multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be
found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The case was
investigated by FBI and the Upson County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from
the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDOC).
Criminal Chief
Leah McEwen is prosecuting the case for the Government.
