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Augusta, GA

Local meth kingpin used mom as drug courier, feds say

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Local meth kingpin used mom as drug courier, feds say


AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Six local residents are headed to federal prison after authorities busted a wide-ranging meth pipeline from Atlanta that was headed by a man who used his mom as a drug courier, prosecutors said Wednesday.

Lead defendant James Andrew McPherson, 30, of Hephzibah, was sentenced to 188 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.

His operation transported large quantities of highly pure methamphetamine for distribution in Richmond, Columbia and Burke counties, according to prosecutors.

McPherson or his couriers – including his mother – brought in the meth from Atlanta, then he split it into smaller quantities for the others to sell, according to prosecutors.

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McPherson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute methamphetamine.

Richmond County Sheriff's Office generic

Authorities have been saying for years that Augusta is susceptible to rings like this, being situated along Interstate 20 with easy access to Atlanta. The Atlanta area itself is a major funnel for the pipeline, as shown by the discovery last month of a ton of meth hidden in a celery truck at a farmers market.

Other defendants sentenced in McPherson’s case include:

  • Brandon Wayne Johnson, 43, of Hephzibah, sentenced to 87 months in prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
  • Marcus “Smoke” Smith, 32, of Augusta, sentenced to 151 months in prison after pleading guilty to distribution of methamphetamine.
  • Leslie Helinski, 54, of Augusta, the mother of James McPherson, sentenced to 130 months in prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
  • Tony Watson, 49, of Conover, N.C., sentenced to 120 months in prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
  • Charity Porter, 25, of Augusta, sentenced to 37 months in prison after pleading guilty to distribution of methamphetamine.
Columbia County (Ga.) Sheriff's Office

“We applaud the work of our law enforcement partners in identifying and disrupting this meth-trafficking conspiracy,” said U.S. Attorney Jill E. Steinberg. “Our communities are safer with these illegal drug distributors off the streets.”

Robert J. Murphy, special agent in charge of the DEA Atlanta Division, agreed.

“Driven by greed, these drug traffickers’ activities posed a significant threat to the Augusta area and beyond,” he said.

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.

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Augusta, GA

Social media posts lead to arrest of man in public indecency case

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Social media posts lead to arrest of man in public indecency case


AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A 58-year-old man has been arrested and charged with felony public indecency on Wednesday afternoon.

The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office says Timothy Kevin Marcus, 58, was arrested without incident around 4 p.m. and charged with two counts of felony public indecency.

The sheriff’s office says they were made aware of online social media footage regarding this incident.

The sheriff’s office says additional charges may be forthcoming.

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According to the sheriff’s office, Marcus has five previous convictions for similar offenses, including one in Columbia County.

“I would like to thank our media partners and the citizens who provided the critical information that allowed us to swiftly apprehend this suspect. By working together, we can accomplish so much more for the safety and well-being of the residents and visitors of Augusta-Richmond County,” said Sheriff Gino Brantley.

Marcus is currently being held at the Charles B. Webster Detention Center, according to the sheriff’s office.

The sheriff’s office is requesting that anyone with direct footage or additional information regarding any specific incident, please email it to the sheriff’s office at pio@augustaga.gov.

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Augusta, GA

Georgia Power crews ‘ready to help’ during winter storm

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Georgia Power crews ‘ready to help’ during winter storm


AUGUSTA, Ga. – As highway crews prepare roadways for a winter storm that’s approaching the Peach State, Georgia Power is getting ready, too.

“We are ready to help where needed,” said Alicia Brown, spokesperson for the utility that’s just come off Hurricane Helene, the must destructive disaster in the company’s history.

In the CSRA, a wintry mix is possible Friday into Saturday for areas near and north of Interstate 20. A FIRST ALERT has been issued to give proper preparedness for potential minor winter impacts.

Brown said Georgia Power is also closely monitoring the forecast to be ready to respond should the storm cause widespread power outages.

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“We have continued to invest in our grid to make sure during times like these that we can get the power back on as quickly as possible,” Brown said.

The upside of the winter storm coming after Helene – and disaster that wiped out electric service across Augusta for days, and weeks in some cases – is that many of the weaker trees were brought down.

The downside is that there are still many trees with perilously hanging branches that could come down without much effort.

MORE FROM NEWS 12

CSRA cold snap: A survival guide

  1. Protecting your pets during extremely cold weather
  2. What can renters do if pipes burst due to winter weather?
  3. Don’t get burned by cold-weather home repair scams
  4. Local fire crews warn of heating hazards in cold weather
  5. How to spot warning signs of frostbite, hypothermia
  6. Protecting your most precious plants from winter’s wrath
  7. Stay inside if you can during cold snap, experts say
  8. Winter weather myths debunked to keep you safe
  9. If your pipes freeze or break, follow this advice from experts
  10. How to get help with your heating bill in the CSRA
  11. What to know if you’ll be driving in subfreezing weather
  12. How to protect your heating system during freezing temperatures
  13. How to stay warm on a budget and beat the cold weather
  14. Trouble from burst pipes can linger well beyond a freeze
  15. Keep your pipes from bursting in freezing weather
  16. How to prepare your home for major freeze

Stay informed

  • Outage Alerts – Customers subscribed to our free Georgia Power Outage Alert service will receive personalized notifications and updates via text message. Check that your contact number is up to date to receive the latest information.
  • Outage and storm center – Available at https://www.georgiapower.com/about/safety/outages-storm-center.html?cid=redirect_vanity_storm, customers can visit this site to check their contact information is updated to receive Outage Alerts, report and check the status of outages, and access useful safety tips and information. Customers can also report and check the status of an outage 24 hours a day by contacting Georgia Power at 888-891-0938.
  • Outage map – Housed within the Outage & Storm Center, Georgia Power’s interactive Outage Map provides near real-time information, allowing users to see where outages are occurring across the state and track estimated restoration times.
  • Georgia Power mobile app – Download the Georgia Power mobile app for Apple and Android devices to access storm and outage information on the go.
  • @GeorgiaPower on X – Follow @GeorgiaPower on X for storm tips, outage updates, customer service and more.

Tips

  • Optimize heating – Heating can account for 50% of a home’s typical winter energy usage. Enhance the efficiency of your heating unit by changing filters monthly, or every three months for pleated filters. Make sure heating vents and return air registers are unobstructed by furniture or drapes.
  • Check your insulation – Keep heat where it belongs by ensuring proper insulation in attics and walls. Replace any cracked or peeling caulk or weatherstripping around doors and windows to save up to 10 percent on energy usage and reduce cold air infiltration into your home.
  • Adjust your thermostat – Set your manual thermostat to 68 degrees or lower. Each degree lower can result in a 3-4% decrease in energy consumption. Or take advantage of programmable thermostat features if available to save energy throughout the day.
  • Utilize natural heat – Open blinds and shades on sunny days to naturally warm your home at no cost. Close them at night to minimize the chill from cold windows.



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Augusta, GA

UFC CEO Dana White joins Meta’s board

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UFC CEO Dana White joins Meta’s board




















UFC CEO Dana White joins Meta’s board | National | wfxg.com

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