ATHENS, GA – The streets of Athens are a little less flooded with poison today, thanks to a federal crackdown that landed three local men lengthy prison sentences. Steven Chance Massey, 25, of Hull, Christopher Phillip Vaughn, 37, of Martin, and Talsey Cleveland McCullough, 33, of Comer, received a combined total of over thirty years in federal prison after being convicted of methamphetamine trafficking and firearms charges. The sentences were handed down Tuesday by Chief United States District Judge C. Ashley Royal.
The bust originated on August 31, 2013, when Athens-Clarke County Police Officers apprehended an individual with a distribution quantity of methamphetamine and a stolen firearm. That initial arrest quickly unraveled a larger operation, leading officers to an area hotel where Massey, Vaughn, and McCullough were found in possession of a staggering amount of the drug – over 500 grams of methamphetamine intended for distribution throughout the Athens area. Alongside the narcotics, authorities also recovered several firearms, a sizable amount of cash, digital scales used for weighing the drugs, and additional currency.
Each defendant faced the music in May 2014, entering guilty pleas. Massey and Vaughn each admitted to one count of possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, a serious federal offense. McCullough pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, a charge that carries significant penalties given the inherent danger of combining drugs and weapons.
United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, Michael J. Moore, didn’t mince words when discussing the case. “Drugs and guns are a deadly combination and a continuing scourge on our communities,” Moore stated. “Hopefully these sentences will convince others inclined to engage in the illegal methamphetamine trade that such activity is not worth the cost when caught.” The sentences themselves reflect the severity of the crimes: Massey received a 200-month (16.67 years) sentence, Vaughn 120 months (10 years), and McCullough 90 months (7.5 years).
The investigation was a collaborative effort, spearheaded by members of the Northeast Georgia Regional Drug Task Force and the Athens-Clarke County Police Department. These officers spent countless hours building the case, gathering evidence, and ultimately bringing these criminals to justice. Assistant United States Attorney Danial E. Bennett skillfully prosecuted the case, ensuring that the defendants were held accountable for their actions.
Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the ongoing fight against drug trafficking in the Middle District of Georgia. Anyone with information regarding illegal drug activity is encouraged to contact the United States Attorney’s Office. For questions concerning this specific case, contact Karen Moore at (478) 621-2606. This bust serves as a stark reminder that dealing in methamphetamine – and possessing firearms while doing so – carries severe consequences.
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Key Facts
- State: Georgia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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