Bobby Earl Grantham Jr, Conspiracy, Georgia 2018

Tifton Drug Dealer Held Accountable for Heroin Overdose Death

Bobby Earl Grantham Jr., a 49-year-old Tifton resident, has been held accountable for his role in the heroin overdose death of Sonya Tolar.

On February 22, 2018, United States District Court Judge Leslie J. Abrams sentenced Grantham to 150 months imprisonment for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. The sentence was handed down after Grantham pleaded guilty to the offense on March 1, 2017.

The drug distribution conspiracy, which lasted from October 2014 to August 2015, involved a total of twenty-one participants, all of whom have been convicted.

The case began to unravel in the summer of 2015, when a confidential source purchased heroin at the residence of Jimmy Barrentine. On one occasion, Grantham sold the heroin, while on another, Barrentine sold it.

On July 16, 2015, Tift County 911 received a dispatch to the residence of Jimmy Barrentine in Tifton, Georgia. Upon arrival, agents found Sonya Tolar dead inside Grantham’s bedroom at Barrentine’s house. Toxicology results from Tolar’s autopsy noted the presence of 6-monoacety1-morphine, a metabolite of heroin.

Agents located Tolar’s cell phone while processing the scene, which revealed that a few hours before the 911 call, Grantham texted a photo of the heroin to Tolar to entice her to visit him.

Furthermore, evidence showed that Grantham waited over 30 minutes before calling for emergency assistance after discovering Tolar had overdosed, and he and others spent the interim time period removing evidence from the residence.

“Opioid distribution has been declared a national epidemic,” said United States Attorney Charles E. Peeler. “Federal law carries stiff penalties for those who distribute drugs where death or serious bodily injury occurs.”

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration Macon Division, GBI Sylvester, Ben Hill County Sheriff’s Office, Tift County Sheriff’s Office, and Mid South Narcotics Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Leah E. McEwen prosecuted the case for the United States.

Questions concerning this case should be directed to Pamela Lightsey, Public Information Officer, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2603.

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