Drug Kingpin Nicks Sentenced to Over 12 Years for Arms-Linked Smuggling

ATLANTA — Omari A. Nicks, a convicted cocaine trafficker, was slammed with a 12 and a half-year federal prison sentence for his role in the illegal distribution of methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl from his Atlanta apartment. The sentencing came after Nicks was caught with a loaded AR-style rifle, which he wasn’t allowed to possess.

‘Nicks is a serial drug trafficker who posed a grave threat to public safety by dealing fentanyl and other dangerous drugs while armed with a high-powered rifle,’ said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. ‘His sentence underscores the collaborative efforts of law enforcement in north Georgia.’

Jae W. Chung, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division, echoed the sentiment: ‘Mixing deadly drugs with guns is a recipe for disaster, and this sentence shows they won’t get away with it.’

‘Bartow County is committed to tackling those who sell fentanyl and other dangerous drugs,’ said Major Mark Mayton of the Bartow-Cartersville Drug Task Force. ‘We’ll keep working with partners to bring these individuals to justice.’

Chief Frank McCann of the Cartersville Police Department added, ‘Our goal is to make it clear that Cartersville will not be a haven for criminal activity.’

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, Nicks was selling drugs from his Atlanta apartment complex in January 2025. DEA agents caught him in action on February 6, 2025. Inside his apartment, they found nearly two kilograms of meth, one kilogram of cocaine, 50 grams of fentanyl, and the AR-15 rifle.

United States District Judge Eleanor L. Ross sentenced Nicks, 47, from Smyrna, Ga., to twelve years and six months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. He was convicted of conspiracy to possess controlled substances with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon after pleading guilty on April 8, 2025.

This case was investigated by the DEA, the Bartow-Cartersville Drug Task Force, and the Cartersville Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Calvin A. Leipold, III and Thomas M. Forsyth, III prosecuted the case as part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative to eliminate cartels and protect communities from violent crime.

Operation Take Back America is an OCDETF operation that identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level criminal organizations using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven approach. This effort is part of the broader OCDETF initiative aimed at safeguarding American communities.