ATLANTA – A ruthless criminal, Malik Kiell Forte, 29, from Fairburn, Georgia, has been locked away for four years after a federal court sentenced him for the daring theft of prescription drugs worth nearly $400,000 and possession of a firearm. Forte’s crimes were as brazen as they were lucrative, targeting warehouses and delivery vehicles in metro Atlanta to swipe valuable pharmaceuticals.
“Criminals who steal prescription medications for profit will be identified, apprehended, and prosecuted,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Our office remains committed to protecting vulnerable patients and punishing gun-toting thieves.”
FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown echoed the sentiments, stating, “Forte’s actions not only harmed the businesses he targeted but impacted the safety and costs for anyone who relies on these medications. The FBI will hold anyone accountable who looks to line their own pockets by harming others.”
Between March 2021 and June 2022, Forte and a co-conspirator, Jaquay Joseph, stole nine shipments of prescription drugs from delivery vehicles parked in front of various pharmacies. They also burglarized a pharmaceutical distribution center in Stone Mountain, Georgia. The stolen drugs, including hydrocodone, oxycodone, and morphine, were valued at nearly $400,000.
Upon searching Forte’s residence, agents discovered some of the pilfered pharmaceuticals and a Glock pistol, which he was prohibited from possessing as a multi-convicted felon. On July 2, 2025, Senior U.S. District Judge Thomas W. Thrash, Jr., sentenced Forte to four years, nine months in prison followed by five years of supervised release.
Forte pleaded guilty on February 5, 2025, to conspiracy to commit theft, theft of medical products, theft of interstate shipments, drug trafficking conspiracy, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Assistant United States Attorney Dash A. Cooper prosecuted the case.
For further information on this high-profile case, contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6185. Visit http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga for more details on the Northern District of Georgia’s U.S. Attorney’s Office.
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Key Facts
- State: Georgia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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