Kingpin receives two life sentences for trafficking Mexican cocaine that flooded the Athens area

Albert Ross, aka “Big,” 53, of Stone Mountain, was sentenced Monday to two life sentences for his involvement in a massive drug conspiracy.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Georgia said Ross was the leader of a violent drug trafficking organization (DTO) that shipped 2,000 kilograms of cocaine from Mexico and distributed the drugs throughout Middle Georgia, including including Athens.

According to court documents, Ross admitted he was the leader of the organization. Working with co-conspirators, investigators learned that Ross directed individuals to transport large quantities of cocaine from Texas for distribution to Ross' clients and associates. Ross's DTO received cocaine from a source in Mexico affiliated with the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG). Money for the cocaine purchases was given to couriers in Atlanta who would then deliver it to Ross' cocaine supplier in Mexico, officials said.

Agents learned that Ross and his co-conspirators traveled to Mexico City in August 2019 to meet with Ross' cocaine supplier and his cartel boss to negotiate a deal where they would provide Ross's DTO with an additional 200 kilograms of cocaine per month.

The prosecutor's office said a message thread found on Ross's iPhone indicated that in less than a month between March 14 and April 4, 2020, Ross received 112 kilograms of cocaine. During the same period, Ross sent more than $2.5 million in drug payments to his cocaine source in Mexico. In 2018, Ross received 1,300 kilograms of cocaine from another Mexican supplier. Once the cocaine arrived in the Atlanta metropolitan area, Ross hid the drugs in the home of an elderly family member, who had previously been shot while picking up drugs at Ross's direction.

Co-defendants Lonnie Bennett, 44, of Atlanta, and Brandon Payne, 30, of Atlanta, sold cocaine supplied by Ross from their hideout on Pittman Road in College Park, authorities said. Co-defendant TaMichael Darden, 43, of Athens, made more than 20 trips from Athens to the Pittman Road stash house to purchase cocaine that he then resold throughout Middle Georgia.

In December 2018, DEA agents received information from a confidential source that Ross was moving a large amount of money from illegal drug sales from Atlanta to California using a private plane . Agents said they spotted men leaving Ross' hideout on Bouldercrest Road and boarding a plane at Peachtree DeKalb Airport with four suitcases and two backpacks. DEA and FBI agents in California were waiting and seized more than $2 million in drugs from luggage.

On September 23, 2021, Ross was arrested at his home in Stone Mountain. Officers found more than $300,000 in cash wrapped in foil and vacuum-sealed in black trash bags inside Ross's bedroom closet. At an Atlanta-area bar owned by Ross, officers found more than $600,000 in drugs. As part of this investigation, authorities seized $3,164,210 in cash, 73 firearms, 165.22 kilograms of cocaine, 1.32 kilograms of fentanyl, 11.25 ounces of heroin, 1.39 kilograms of crack cocaine, 12.57 pounds of crystal methamphetamine, 25.35 pounds of marijuana and 198 doses. controlled substance units.

Ross has prior felony drug convictions in Fulton County Superior Court and has been arrested several times for drug trafficking.

Ross was sentenced to serve the statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment for each count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. marijuana to which he pleaded guilty on January 22. He was sentenced to serve five years in prison under supervision. released and paid a fine of one million dollars.