Convicted Murderer Matthews Sentenced for Prison Drug Ring

ATLANTA – A life sentence murderer, Jarvis Matthews, has been caught operating a multi-million-dollar drug ring from his cell at Calhoun State Prison. After a five-day trial, the jury found him guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl, along with money laundering.

Matthews, 46, from Morgan, Georgia, was already serving life without parole for murder and felony murder when he masterminded the operation. He used contraband cell phones to run his drug trafficking and money laundering scheme, enlisting family members and other prisoners in his criminal enterprise.

U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg called Matthews’s actions ‘audacious,’ stating that the investigation and coordination with local partners led to this conviction. Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown of the FBI Atlanta emphasized that this case reflects the agency’s commitment to dismantling transnational criminal organizations.

According to Hertzberg, while imprisoned, Matthews directed drug distribution around Atlanta using his family. The FBI identified his social media activities and made controlled purchases, leading to a wiretap and camera installation at drug trap houses. This allowed them to apprehend Matthews’s customers after they received drugs from his sons.

Testimony showed that Matthews was responsible for the distribution of multiple kilograms of internationally-sourced drugs and laundering hundreds of thousands of dollars in drug proceeds. He faces a mandatory minimum 25 years in federal prison, to be served consecutively with his state sentence. Sentencing is yet to be scheduled.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, an initiative aiming to eliminate cartels and protect communities from violent crime. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Johnny Baer and John DeGenova are prosecuting the case.