Six individuals from Georgia and North Carolina have been sentenced to lengthy federal prison terms for their roles in a methamphetamine trafficking operation.
James Andrew McPherson, 30, of Hephzibah, Ga., the lead defendant, received a 188-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Methamphetamine, announced Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall also imposed three years of supervised release following McPherson’s prison term.
“We commend the efforts of law enforcement in dismantling this meth-trafficking conspiracy,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “These sentences ensure that our communities are safer with these dangerous drug distributors removed from the streets.”
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According to court records, McPherson led a drug trafficking ring that transported large amounts of high-purity methamphetamine into Richmond, Columbia, and Burke counties. He obtained the drugs from a supplier in Atlanta, either transporting the drugs himself or using couriers, including his own mother. McPherson then distributed the methamphetamine to others for further sale.
Other defendants sentenced include:
- Brandon Wayne Johnson, 43, of Hephzibah, Ga. – Sentenced to 87 months in prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
- Marcus Smith, a.k.a. “Smoke,” 32, of Augusta – Sentenced to 151 months in prison for Distribution of Methamphetamine.
- Leslie Helinski, 54, of Augusta – McPherson’s mother, sentenced to 130 months in prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
- Tony Watson, 49, of Conover, N.C. – Sentenced to 120 months in prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
- Charity Porter, 25, of Augusta – Sentenced to 37 months in prison for Distribution of Methamphetamine.
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There is no parole in the federal system.
“Fueled by greed, these drug traffickers endangered the Augusta area and beyond with their illicit activities,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “This successful investigation sends a clear message: those who flood our communities with methamphetamine will be held accountable.”
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Georgia State Patrol, Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, Burke County Sheriff’s Office, and McDuffie County Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution was handled by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Z.
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