IRWIN COUNTY, Ga. — A Lee Arrendale State Prison inmate is accused of orchestrating a methamphetamine trafficking operation from behind bars. The South Central Drug Task Force (SCDTF) uncovered the alleged operation during an extensive investigation.
According to SCDTF, the inmate was directing methamphetamine shipments into South Georgia’s Irwin County. The suspect allegedly used contraband cell phones to coordinate deals with outside dealers and couriers.
“These cases are not as common as one would think. However, these ‘prison brokers,’ that’s what we call them in our field, they have a lot of friends, a lot of connections through prior work histories on their behalf, so they are still able to make these contacts,” Hudson Moyle with the South Central Drug Task Force (SCDTF) told WALB News.
Two-part takedown
According to WALB, the SCDTF used two tactics to bring down the operation. First, they used an inmate ringleader to coordinate a controlled drug deal in the prison. Using information they learned during that deal, investigators then located a drug mule at Irwinville Country Store, outside Ocilla. There, they allegedly found 33 grams of methamphetamine.
The drug mule cooperated with law enforcement. They explained that a dealer in Tifton was supplying the drugs at the direction of the Lee Arrendale inmate.
“Tifton Police Department was then able to get enough probable cause to obtain a search warrant for that hotel. After the search warrant was executed, they found copious amounts of drugs and some digital media that also tied him to the prison source up in Arrendale Prison,” said Moyle.
According to SCDTF, the search uncovered methamphetamine, fentanyl, ecstasy tablets, and a firearm connected to the network moving drugs into Irwin County.
Dept. of Corrections issues statement
The Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) issued a statement to WALB addressing how an inmate could have carried out such an operation.
“The use of contraband cell phones by inmates as a tool to carry out their crimes is a fight we continue to battle and is paramount in our commitment to public safety,” the statement said. “The GDC continues to utilize all resources at our disposal to combat this and other similar crimes being carried out inside and outside our prisons from those using contraband cell phones.”
GDC officials said they are working with state and federal lawmakers to pass legislation that would allow Georgia prisons to jam cell phone communications. Currently, federal law prohibits the use of cell phone jammers.
The SCDTF said the case highlights the importance of interagency communication and teamwork.
“Without the rapid coordination between South Central Drug Task Force agents, investigators with the Georgia Department of Corrections, and the Tifton Police Department, this operation would not have had the successful outcome it did.”
Due to the ongoing investigation, authorities have not released the names of the suspects.
