DeMarcus Bell, Methamphetamine Trafficking, Georgia 2018

Macon, Ga. - A methamphetamine trafficker caught with a large amount of 'ice' methamphetamine was sentenced to serve twelve and a half years in prison today for his crime, said Charles 'Charlie' Peeler, the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia.

DeMarcus Bell, 42, of Cordele, Georgia was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell to 150 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. There is no parole in the federal system.

On October 7, 2018, an officer with the Byron, Georgia Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Bell. The defendant consented to a search of the vehicle and officers found what was later confirmed to be 993 grams of d-methamphetamine hydrochloride with a purity of 89%, 1,017.1 grams of d-methamphetamine hydrochloride with a purity of 82% and 58.27 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride. The methamphetamine was found hidden in boxes containing small bags of chips that were in the backseat and trunk of the vehicle. In the passenger glove box, officers also found a 9mm semiautomatic pistol.

"Methamphetamine trafficking destroys lives, cripples families and gravely harms communities. We will prosecute illegal drug traffickers, and they will face federal prison without parole," said Charlie Peeler, the U.S. Attorney. "I want to thank our local and federal law enforcement partners for their work in this case and for taking these dangerous drugs off the streets."

The case was investigated by the Byron Police Department, Peach County Sheriff's Office, Perry Police Department, Monroe County Sheriff's Office, DeKalb County Sheriff's Office and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Howard prosecuted the case for the Government. Questions can be directed to Pamela Lightsey, Public Information Officer, United States Attorney's Office, at (478) 621-2603 or Melissa Hodges, Public Affairs Director (Contractor), United States Attorney's Office, at (478) 765-2362.

In this case, the defendant was found guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell. DeMarcus Bell, a 42-year-old resident of Cordele, Georgia, was sentenced to 150 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release.

Local law enforcement agencies worked together with the FBI to investigate the case. The methamphetamine was found hidden in boxes containing small bags of chips in the backseat and trunk of the vehicle. A 9mm semiautomatic pistol was also found in the passenger glove box.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdga/pr/methamphetamine-trafficker-sentenced-12-years-prison