Three men convicted of drug and firearms trafficking

James Lewallen Meeks, a Georgia Department of Corrections inmate, and two co-conspirators, Jamey Michael Latty and Mark Anthony Powell, were sentenced to federal prison for their roles in trafficking firearms, methamphetamine and fentanyl in the northwest Georgia.

“While serving time for a violent crime in a Georgia correctional facility, Meeks continued his criminal activities by brokering a number of illegal gun and drug transactions with his co-defendants in northwest Georgia. Georgia,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Meeks will now serve two decades in federal prison after completing his state sentence, and his co-defendants will also be headed to federal prison.”

“This case illustrates our commitment to preventing drug trafficking and criminal activity from poisoning our communities,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Alicia Jones. “It also sends a clear message that we will relentlessly pursue and pursue the leaders and members of these violent drug enterprises.” »

“Our communities continue to be attacked by criminal drug trafficking organizations, with little regard for the damage and destruction they cause,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA's Atlanta Division. “This investigation and subsequent arrests of members of this violent drug trafficking organization demonstrate the DEA’s commitment to protecting our community by destroying these drug trafficking organizations.” »

According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: Around February 2022, James Lewallen Meeks, an inmate at Wheeler Correctional Center in Alamo, Georgia, used a contraband cell phone to coordinate with Jamey Michael Latty and Mark Anthony Powell. to sell guns and drugs. Specifically, in March 2022, Meeks worked with Latty to sell methamphetamine in Rockmart, Georgia, and then sold methamphetamine and a Glock pistol to an individual in Cave Springs, Georgia. Meeks also repeatedly coordinated with Powell to sell methamphetamine and what turned out to be a mixture of fentanyl and xylazine to the same individual in Carrollton, Georgia. In addition to drugs, Powell sold ammunition and five firearms, including a UZI .22 caliber long rifle with silencer, under Meeks' direction. In April 2022, Latty separately sold ammunition and four firearms, including an AR-style rifle designed as a machine gun, to the same individual in Rome, Georgia.

On June 2, 2022, Latty was arrested in Hiram, Georgia, in possession of approximately one kilogram of methamphetamine. The same day, Powell was arrested in Carrollton after leading law enforcement on a vehicle chase during which approximately a kilogram of methamphetamine was thrown out the window of Powell's truck. A gun and a substance containing fentanyl were found in Powell's vehicle at the time of his arrest. Agents also executed a federal search warrant at a Carrollton residence, where some drug and firearm transactions had occurred, and seized six firearms from the residence, including rifles, shotguns and a pistol. Latty and Powell were prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition because each had previously been convicted of a felony.

After Latty was indicted, he fled the state and assumed a false identity. Through the efforts of several state and federal agencies, Latty was ultimately located and apprehended by Deputy U.S. Marshals in Collinsville, Alabama.

After pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and carrying a firearm during and in connection with a drug trafficking crime , U.S. District Judge William M. Ray, II sentenced the three men as follows:

• James Lewallen Meeks, 39, of Dallas, Georgia, was sentenced to 20 years in prison, followed by eight years of supervised release, consecutive to the time he is already serving a state prison sentence.

• Jamey Michael Latty, 45, of Center, Alabama, was sentenced to 15 years and one month in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.

• Mark Anthony Powell, 43, of Jackson, Georgia, was sentenced to 10 years and seven months in prison, followed by eight years of supervised release.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Georgia State Patrol, the Haralson Paulding County Drug Task Force, the Paulding County Sheriff's Office, Polk County Police Department, State of Michigan. University Police Department, U.S. Marshals Service Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force Office and DeKalb County Special Response Team, Alabama Sheriff's Office.

Assistant United States Attorney Rebeca M. Ojeda prosecuted the case.