AUGUSTA, GA – Seven people have been indicted on charges related to a major methamphetamine-trafficking organization blamed for at least one overdose death. As described in the newly unsealed indictment in USA v. Wheatley et. al, the investigation in Operation Wheat Fields dates back to early 2018 and includes allegations...

FLORENCE, SOUTH CAROLINA — A federal grand jury in Florence has returned an indictment in connection with drug-related charges against two former correctional officers with the South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC). Specifically, Joseph Corey Bailey, Jr., 29, and Xavier Kaseem Capers, 28, both of Ridgeland, were charged with conspiring...

AUGUSTA, Ga. – A Warren County man has been indicted on charges including illegally possessing a machine gun and trafficking methamphetamine. Kevin Shawn McGahee, 47, of Stapleton, Ga, is charged in a newly unsealed indictment with Possession with Intent to Distribute Five or More Grams of Methamphetamine; Possession of a...

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Four defendants are awaiting sentencing after admitting they participated in an operation that used pill presses to package and distribute illegal drugs. Albert Bynoe, a/k/a “Chino,” a/k/a “Bossman Chino,” 35, of Decatur, Ga., awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and...

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Today, Chief U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger sentenced James Julius Lumpkin, of Sevierville, Tennessee, to 156 months in prison and five years of supervised release for drug trafficking, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. U.S. Attorney King is joined in...

GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA — Keowsha Golden, 36, of Greenville, was sentenced to more than 1o years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute oxycodone. Evidence presented to the Court showed that Golden obtained prescription paper and then forged physician information to write prescriptions for 30 milligram oxycodone...

ALBANY, N.Y. – Vivian Letizia, age 63, of Stone Ridge, New York, pled guilty today to acquiring and obtaining a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, deception, or subterfuge. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Timothy Foley, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S...

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Daequon D. Perkins, 25, and Mark W. Baker, 44, both of Utica, New York, pled guilty today for their participation in a fentanyl conspiracy. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Oneida County District Attorney Scott McNamara, New York State Police Superintendent Kevin...

BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Octavio Cruz, 39, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, butyryl fentanyl, was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremiah...

BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Antasia Babcock, 28, of Jamestown, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 100 grams or more of acetyl fentanyl; 50 grams or more of...