Augusta, GA
Man sentenced to 20 years for role in Augusta-area drug trafficking operation
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – An Augusta man has been sentenced to twenty years in federal jail after admitting his participation in a conspiracy associated to no less than one overdose dying.
Jayson Dwayne Wheatley, 42, of Augusta, was sentenced to 240 months in jail after beforehand pleading responsible to conspiracy to own with intent to distribute and to distribute 50 grams or extra of methamphetamine and an quantity of heroin, stated David H. Estes, U.S. Lawyer for the Southern District of Georgia.
In keeping with court docket paperwork and testimony, Wheatley and his co-defendants had been indicted in April 2022 in USA v. Wheatley et. al, based mostly on proof gathered in the course of the investigation.
In keeping with the information launch, six different defendants had been named within the federal indictment. Two had been sentenced to federal jail; three defendants are ready for sentencing after pleading responsible to associated costs. One defendant awaits additional court docket proceedings, in line with officers.
A associated indictment in Operation Wheat Fields, USA v. Fields et. al, named 10 further defendants in October 2022. A type of defendants has entered a responsible plea; the remaining defendants await additional court docket proceedings and are thought-about harmless until and till confirmed responsible.
Operation Wheat Fields was investigated by the Richmond County Sheriff’s Workplace; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; the Columbia County Sheriff’s Workplace; and the Swainsboro Police Division, and prosecuted by the US by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Lawyer and Prison Division Chief Patricia G. Rhodes.
Officers say U.S. District Court docket Chief Choose J. Randal Corridor additionally fined Wheatley $2,500 and ordered him to serve 5 years of supervised launch upon completion of his jail time period.
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