Drug Trafficker Sentenced for Distributing High-Grade Marijuana and Cocaine Throughout the United States

ATLANTA—Jason Barbour, 40, of Manhattan Beach, California, who trafficked in large amounts of high-grade marijuana and cocaine, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Richard W. Story to serve 11 years and four months for conspiring to distribute marijuana and cocaine and conspiring to launder money.

United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said, “This case demonstrates how the drug trade is not an isolated crime but interconnects throughout the United States. This conspiracy distributed drugs throughout the country—including Atlanta—using private aircraft in an attempt to avoid law enforcement detection. Today’s sentence is a reminder that selling drugs is a precarious business with significant costs that violators pay when they are caught.”

Mark F. Giuliano, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Atlanta Field Office, stated, “Mr. Barbour’s luck in flying under the radar of law enforcement has run out with today’s sentencing. The FBI will continue to work with its various law enforcement partners in investigating such organized crime groups engaged in transnational drug trafficking.”

IRS Criminal Investigation, Acting Special Agent in Charge Veronica Hyman-Pillot said, “We would like this sentence to serve as a strong message throughout the region that we will not stand for the destruction drugs bring to our communities, and we will do everything within our power to stop the transportation and sale of these drugs.”

Barbour was sentenced to 11 years and four months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. Barbour was convicted on October 6, 2011, upon his plea of guilty.

According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges, and other information presented in court: Barbour was a member of a conspiracy that obtained high-grade marijuana from sources in Canada and arranged for the transportation of those drugs to the Pacific Northwest. From there, Barbour and members of his conspiracy would transport the drugs via private airplane to cities throughout the United States, including Atlanta. Money that was generated from the marijuana sales was used to purchase cocaine in Los Angeles, California, for ultimate sale to the marijuana suppliers in Canada.

This case was investigated by special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation.

Assistant United States Attorneys Jeffrey Brown and Elizabeth M. Hathaway prosecuted this case.

For further information, please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Information Office at USAGAN.Presse-mails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is www.justice.gov/usao/gan.