United States Drug Enforcement Administration

ATLANTA - Kevin Bristol Patterson, 35, of Blairsville, Georgia, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Eleanor L. Ross to 18 years and four months in federal prison to be followed by five years of supervised release, and a $600 special assessment.  Patterson’s sentence was a result of his role in distributing methamphetamine and heroin while incarcerated at Ware State Prison in Waycross, Georgia.

Patterson’s co-defendant, Alex Mauricio Altamirano, 26, of Norcross, Georgia, was incarcerated with Patterson at Ware State Prison.  It was Altamirano who established a connection between his nephew, Denis Miguel Pineda, 30, an Atlanta drug trafficker and Patterson.

Using a contraband cellphone, Patterson introduced a drug buyer to Pineda. The buyer had spent time in prison with Patterson, but was now working with the police. In exchange for the introduction, Patterson expected the buyer to give him $500 every time the buyer bought drugs from Pineda. Patterson, Pineda, and Altamirano all discussed the price of narcotics and the time and place of the sales with the buyer in extensive, recorded telephone conversations.

In total, Pineda sold 649.9 grams of methamphetamine and 334 grams of heroin in five separate transactions to the buyer from July 2014 through October 2015. Police seized all the drugs before they could hit the streets. Pineda agreed to sell another kilogram of methamphetamine on November 4, 2015, but was arrested before he could make the sale. After his arrest, Altamirano assured the buyer that he could arrange for someone else to provide the promised narcotics. However, both he and Patterson were transferred to federal custody before they could complete the sale. 

On August 10, 2016, Patterson pled guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and heroin and five counts of possessing methamphetamine and heroin with the intent to distribute them. His co-conspirators, Pineda and Altamirano had previously been sentenced.

Pineda was sentenced to 12 years, seven months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release after pleading guilty. Pineda was convicted on May 23, 2016.

Altamirano was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release after pleading guilty to the conspiracy charge. Altamirano was convicted on May 11, 2016.

Daniel R. Salter, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Filed Division commented, “DEA is fully committed to tirelessly pursuing criminals who sell copious quantities of drugs, whether it’s on the streets or inside of a prison, as was the case in this investigation. This incarcerated, career-criminal continuously arranged drug deals outside of prison, which will land him even more time in prison. The spirited level of law enforcement cooperation made this investigation a success.”

“Patterson’s determination to commit crimes was not dampened by his incarceration,” said U.S. Attorney John Horn. “Despite being in prison, he conspired to distribute methamphetamine and heroin outside of jail using a contraband phone.  This case represents another example of the dangers that contraband cell phones inside of the prison system pose to our citizens outside the prison.”

“We appreciate the ongoing efforts by our law enforcement partners to assist with halting criminal enterprise within our prisons, and we are pleased with the outcome of this case,” said Georgia Department of Corrections Commissioner Gregory C. Dozier. “I am proud of our special agent assigned to this case for his role in bringing this scheme to the forefront,” continued Dozier.”

This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Vivek Kothari prosecuted the case.

The DEA encourages parents, along with their children, to educate themselves about the dangers of legal and illegal drugs by visiting DEA’s interactive websites at www.justthinktwice.com, www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.com and www.dea.gov. Also follow DEA Atlanta via Twitter at @DEAATLANTADiv