MACON, Ga. – A Macon resident convicted in August 2021 for his role in a substantial methamphetamine trafficking network was sentenced to serve 420 months in prison for his crimes.
Roderick Chester, 34, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 420 months in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release on Thursday, Feb. 2, by U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell, after he was found guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm on Wednesday, Aug. 25, following a three-day trial. Chester was one of a total of 19 defendants indicted after an investigation centered on drug trafficking in and around motels located in the Eisenhower Parkway corridor. All 19 defendants were convicted in federal court.
“The FBI and Bibb County Sheriff’s Office worked seamlessly to unravel a substantial methamphetamine trafficking ring involving many individuals with violent criminal backgrounds who were providing large amounts of poison to communities in Middle Georgia,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Thanks to their efforts, this meth network is shattered, and the participants have been brought to justice.”
“Chester is one of the final defendants, part of a major drug trafficking organization, to be sentenced for plaguing the streets of our communities with drugs and crime,” said Philip Wislar, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This significant sentence is the result of the hard work and coordination of our federal, state and local law enforcement partners efforts to bring the opioid epidemic in Georgia to an end.”
“It is good that justice has been served concerning the illegal deeds of Roderick Chester,” said Bibb Sheriff David Davis. “His prosecution was a result of Operation Extended Stay by the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI. This conviction will assure that Mr. Chester will now see an extended stay in a federal prison.”
According to court documents and evidence introduced at trial, Chester was a methamphetamine supplier in Macon. Agents observed Chester supplying methamphetamine to co-defendant Carlos Brown, who ultimately sold the methamphetamine to a confidential source during three controlled buys. Agents intercepted Chester’s phone calls and text messages by wiretap which revealed further methamphetamine distribution activities by Chester. At the time of his arrest, Chester had $15,000 cash and a firearm in his possession. Chester had previously been convicted of aggravated assault and aggravated assault on a peace officer. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm. During the course of the investigation, the methamphetamine organization distributed more than 4.5 kilograms of “ice” methamphetamine.
The following co-defendants are awaiting sentencing:
Tamara Fryer, 34, of Macon, pleaded guilty to use of communication facility in causing or facilitating the commission of felonies under the controlled substances act and is facing a maximum of four years in prison. A sentencing date has not been scheduled; and,
Milton Hill, 38, of Macon, pleaded guilty to use of communication facility in causing or facilitating the commission of felonies under the controlled substances act and is facing a maximum of four years in prison. A sentencing date has not been scheduled.
The following co-defendants have been sentenced for their crimes:
Robert Lee Whisby, Jr. aka Lil Pumpkin, 46, of Macon and Stone Mountain, Georgia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to serve 240 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release;
Rodney Morris, Sr., 46, of Macon, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to serve 200 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release;
Cartney Pitts aka Blue, 37, of Macon, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to serve 200 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release;
Joshua Barham aka Gambino, 32, of Macon, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to serve 175 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release;
Carlos Brown aka Lo, 33, of Macon, pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine and was sentenced to 150 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release;
Shauna Bush aka Brittany, 26, of Macon, pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine and was sentenced to serve 121 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release;
Keyundre Stafford aka Dre, 26, of Macon, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and use of communication facility in causing or facilitating the commission of felonies under the controlled substances act and was sentenced to serve 108 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release;
Stephanie Davis, 32, of Macon, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to serve 100 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release;
Kyra Williams aka K-Boo, 29, of Macon, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to serve 100 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release;
Morley Culver, 44, of Macon, pleaded guilty to two counts use of communication facility in causing or facilitating the commission of felonies under the controlled substances act and was sentenced to 96 months in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release;
Troy Faulks, 49, of Macon, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 87 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release;
Lori Harrell, 34, of Macon, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to serve 80 months in prison to run consecutively to sentences imposed in Bibb County, Georgia, Superior Court to be followed by three years of supervised release;
Albruce Green aka B, 41, of Macon, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to serve to 60 months imprisonment to run consecutively to a sentence imposed in an unrelated case to be followed by three years of supervised release;
Ray Kendrick aka Unk, 63, of Macon, pleaded guilty to use of communication facility in causing or facilitating the commission of felonies under the controlled substances act and was sentenced to 48 months in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release;
Theon Robinson, 40, of Macon and Sarasota, Florida, pleaded guilty to use of communication facility in causing or facilitating the commission of felonies under the controlled substances act and was sentenced to serve 46 months in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release; and,
Melvin Cason, 32, of Macon, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to serve three years of probation.
The case was investigated by FBI and the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shanelle Booker, Beth Howard and Will Keyes are prosecuting the case.
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