Final members of East Alabama drug trafficking organization sentenced
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The final three members of a drug trafficking organization based in Lee County were sentenced in federal court last week, announced Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge Andy Langan with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S. Attorney Louis V. Franklin, Sr.
Marquis Lanez Miller, Lester Stephen Young, and Worldly Dieago Holstick were sentenced last week, bringing the total number of organization members sentenced in federal court to 19.
Each of the defendants previously entered guilty pleas to various drug, gun, and money laundering offenses, including four who did so after a jury trial had commenced. According to witnesses who testified during the trial and the sentencing hearings, Worldly Holstick was the leader of the DTO, which stretched from Alabama and Georgia to California. The investigation began after an 11-year-old child was shot while sitting in a vehicle outside one of Holstick’s residences in the Orchard Way trailer park in Auburn, Alabama on Sept. 16, 2016. During the ensuing investigation, officers seized the DVR system located at the residence, which contained video of the shooting as well as Holstick and other members of the conspiracy possessing cocaine, marijuana, and various firearms.
An additional 15 defendants were prosecuted in state court by the Lee County District Attorney’s Office.
In the mid-1990s, Worldly Holstick’s father, Lester Holstick, along with five of Lester Holstick’s siblings (Anthony, Mack, Betty Jean, Rochester, and Curtis) were convicted in federal court on drug trafficking charges. Lester Holstick was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment. Mack Holstick was sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment.
“This was a huge impact investigation for the Auburn and Lee County communities,” said Acting ASAC Langan. “It shines a spotlight on the great things that are accomplished when federal, state, and local law enforcement partners work together with their prosecuting counterparts toward a common goal. These sentences should send the message to everyone involved in the illicit drug trade in the State of Alabama that we will bring you to justice, and you will be held accountable for your crimes.”
"These sentencings are the result of the hard work and dedication of multiple agencies and will strike a severe blow to an organization that was bringing dangerous drugs and violence into our communities," said U.S. Attorney Franklin. "Too often, multiple generations participate in the drug trafficking trade, and society is left to deal with this vicious cycle. My office will continue to work with all of our law enforcement partners to identify and dismantle these drug trafficking organizations.”
These cases were investigated by the following agencies: DEA's Montgomery Resident Office, Auburn Police Department, Eufaula Police Department, Prattville Police Department, Alabama Attorney General’s Office, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Alabama HIDTA Task Force, Alabama National Guard, Autauga County Sheriff’s Office, Central Alabama Drug Task Force (CADTF), Elmore County Sheriff’s Office, Millbrook Police Department, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Montgomery Police Department, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Lee County District Attorney’s Office, Opelika Police Department, Troy Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals.
Parents and children are encouraged to educate themselves about the dangers of drugs by visiting DEA’s interactive websites at www.JustThinkTwice.com, www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.com and www.dea.gov.
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