Drug Dealers Sentenced

United States Attorney Michael J. Moore, Middle District of Georgia, announced that the Honorable Hugh Lawson, United States District Judge for the Middle District of Georgia, imposed the following sentences on February 27, 2012:

On December 8, 2011, James Corshoray Willis, age 35, of Moultrie, Georgia, pled guilty to distribution of cocaine in violation of Title 21, United States Code Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C). In his plea agreement, Willis admitted that from April 21, 2010 through August 10, 2010, he sold cocaine to confidential informant on multiple occasions. Willis also stipulated that the amount of drugs attributable to him was at least 500 grams but less than two kilograms of cocaine.

Willis was sentenced to serve 80 months in the Bureau of Prisons. This sentence was ordered to be consecutive to sentences imposed for violating the terms of his earlier imposed parole in Henry County Superior Court Case Number 02-CR-300, for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, and in Colquitt County Superior Court Case Number 02-CR-717, for possession of ecstacy. The prison sentence is to be followed by a period of supervised release of three years.

The case was investigated by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Colquitt County Drug Enforcement Team, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

On November 16, 2011, William McKeithen, age 42, of Valdosta, Georgia, pled guilty to distribution of cocaine in violation of Title 21, United States Code Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B)(ii). In his plea agreement, McKeithen admitted that on December 29, 2010, officers with the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by McKeithen. A search of the vehicle revealed 998.7 grams of cocaine in eight separate bags hidden inside a cardboard gift box that was located on the front passenger seat.

McKeithen was sentenced to serve 209 months in the Bureau of Prisons. The prison sentence is to be followed by a period of supervised release of five years. McKeithen was categorized a career offender based on his prior 1990 conviction for third-degree murder in Dade County, Florida, and his 2001 conviction for distribution of crack cocaine in the Valdosta Division of the Middle District of Georgia.

The case was investigated by the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

On August 19, 2011, David Laster, age 41, of Ocilla, Georgia, pled guilty to distribution of crack cocaine in violation of Title 21, United States Code Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B)(iii). In his plea agreement, Laster admitted that on January 9 and January 23, February 26, and April 7, 2009, he had sold a total of 128.8 grams of crack cocaine to a confidential informant.

Laster was sentenced to serve 120 months in the Bureau of Prisons. The prison sentence is to be followed by a period of supervised release of eight years. Laster’s sentence was enhanced based on his 1991 and 1998 convictions for sale of cocaine in Irwin County, Georgia.

The case was investigated by agents of the South Central Drug Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

On November 22, 2011, Curtis Lee Williams, age 31, of Lakeland, Georgia, pled guilty to distribution of crack cocaine in violation of Title 21, United States Code Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B)(iii). In his plea agreement, Williams admitted that beginning on December 16, 2009, and continuing through March 1, 2010, he had sold crack cocaine to a confidential informant. Williams also admitted that on October 7, 2010, deputies of the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a rental vehicle he was operating. A search of the vehicle revealed a large bag of powder cocaine. Williams stipulated that he was responsible for 87.69 grams of crack cocaine and 132.69 grams of cocaine.

Williams was sentenced to serve 60 months in the Bureau of Prisons. The prison sentence is to be followed by a period of supervised release of four years.

The case was investigated by the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Drug Enforcement Administration

On December 19, 2011, Peter Thornton, age 39 of Moultrie, Georgia, pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine in violation of Title 21, United States Code Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B)(iii). In his plea agreement, Thornton admitted that on January 1, 2007, he possessed both crack cocaine and powder cocaine with the intent to distribute them and that from August 5, 2009 through January 6, 2010, he sold cocaine to a confidential informant. Thornton stipulated he was responsible for 109 grams of cocaine base a/k/a crack cocaine and 337 grams of powder cocaine.

Thornton was sentenced to serve 188 months in the Bureau of Prisons. The prison sentence is to be followed by a period of supervised release of five years. Thornton was categorized a career offender based on his 1990 conviction for sale of cocaine in Colquitt County, Georgia, and his conviction for kidnapping in Colquitt County, Georgia.

The case was investigated by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Colquitt County Drug Enforcement Team, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

On October 5, 2011, Justin Barron, age 30 of Valdosta, Georgia, pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine in violation of Title 21, United States Code Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B)(iii). In his plea agreement, Barron admitted that on January 31, 2008, he had sold crack cocaine and powder cocaine to a confidential informant. The court found him responsible for at least 28 grams of crack cocaine but not more than 112 grams of crack cocaine.

Justin Barron was sentenced to serve 135 months in the Bureau of Prisons. The prison sentence is to be followed by a period of supervised release of five years.

The case was investigated by agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Valdosta Police Department.

On September 26, 2011, Corey Miller, age 29 of Lakeland, Georgia, pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine in violation of Title 21, United States Code Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B)(iii). In his plea agreement, Miller admitted that on multiple occasions between November 22, 2009 and February 21, 2010, he sold crack cocaine to a confidential informant. Miller stipulated that he was responsible for 43 grams of crack cocaine.

On December 19, 2011, Miller was sentenced to serve 151 months in the Bureau of Prisons. The prison sentence is to be followed by a period of supervised release of three years. Miller was categorized a career offender based on his 2001 and 2003 convictions for sale of cocaine in Lanier County, Georgia.

The case was investigated by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On November 3, 2011, the co-defendant and brother of Corey Miller, Johnny Locklear, age 45, of Lakeland, Georgia, pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine in violation of Title 21, United States Code Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C). In his plea agreement, Locklear admitted that on February 3, 2010, he delivered cocaine to the confidential informant at Corey Miller’s direction.

Locklear was sentenced to serve six months in the Bureau of Prisons. Locklear stipulated that he was responsible for less than two grams of crack cocaine. The prison sentence is to be followed by a period of supervised release of three years.

“I appreciate the cooperative efforts of our state, local, and federal partners as we work together to take drug dealers off of our streets and out of our neighborhoods, and put them in federal prison for a good, long time,” U.S. Attorney Michael Moore said.

The case was investigated by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The cases were all prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Leah E. McEwen.