Career Cocaine Dealer In Athens-Clarke County Sentenced To 151 Months In Federal Prison

MACON – A defendant with a lengthy criminal history will spend 151 months in federal prison for distributing cocaine in the Athens area, announced Charles “Charlie” Peeler, the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia. Patrick O’Neal Kennedy, 43, of Athens was sentenced Wednesday by the Honorable C. Ashley Royal in U.S. District Court, Macon, on the charge of Distribution of Cocaine Base. There is no parole in the federal system.

On March 23, 2018, a confidential source exchanged a series of text messages with Mr. Kennedy regarding a crack cocaine deal. FBI agents, along with Athens-Clarke County Police Department officers, worked with the confidential source, providing the source with $600 for the purchase of the illegal drugs. Under surveillance, the source purchased crack cocaine from the defendant, who admitted he knowingly possessed 8.25 grams of cocaine with the intent to distribute them.  

Mr. Kennedy has three prior drug convictions, all in Athens-Clarke County Superior Court:

1. July 6, 2017, Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute and Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute;

2. September 19, 2014, Possession of Cocaine; and

3. August 23, 2006, Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute.

“This individual has been a menace to the peace and safety of citizens in Athens-Clarke County, and he will now spend more than 12 years behind federal prison bars,” said Charles “Charlie” Peeler, the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia. “I want to thank our law enforcement partners, including the FBI and the Athens-Clarke County Police Department, for rooting out a career criminal who thought he was above the law.”

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Athens-Clarke County Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lyndie Freeman and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Leary prosecuted this case for the Government.

Questions concerning this case can be directed to Pamela Lightsey, Public Information Officer, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2603 or Melissa Hodges, Public Affairs Director (Contractor), United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 765-2362.