Gang of Three Sentenced for Northwest Georgia Trafficking Ring

Rome, GA – In a brazen display of corruption and greed, James Lewallen Meeks, a 39-year-old inmate at the Wheeler Correctional Facility in Alamo, Georgia, and two co-conspirators, Jamey Michael Latty, 36, of Rockmart, Georgia, and Mark Anthony Powell, 34, of Carrollton, Georgia, have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in trafficking firearms and drugs in Northwest Georgia.

According to U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan, Meeks continued his life of crime while serving a sentence for a violent crime in a Georgia Correctional Facility. Using a contraband cell phone, Meeks brokered a number of illegal firearm and drug transactions with his co-defendants in Northwest Georgia.

“While serving a sentence for a violent crime in a Georgia Correctional Facility, Meeks continued his criminal activity by brokering a number of illegal firearm and drug transactions with his co-defendants in Northwest Georgia,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Meeks will now serve two decades in federal prison after completing his state sentence, and his co-defendants are headed to federal prison as well.”

Meeks, Latty, and Powell were arrested in June 2022 after a lengthy investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Agents seized six firearms, including rifles, shotguns, and a pistol, as well as approximately two kilograms of methamphetamine.

Latty was separately arrested in Hiram, Georgia, in possession of approximately one kilogram of methamphetamine. Powell was arrested in Carrollton after leading law enforcement on a vehicle chase, during which approximately one kilogram of methamphetamine was thrown out of his truck window.

Meeks, Latty, and Powell each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. U.S. District Judge William M. Ray, II sentenced the three men as follows:

James Lewallen Meeks, 39, of Dallas, Georgia, was sentenced to 20 years in prison to be followed by eight years of supervised release, consecutive to the time he is already serving in state custody.

Jamey Michael Latty, 36, of Rockmart, Georgia, was sentenced to 15 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.

Mark Anthony Powell, 34, of Carrollton, Georgia, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

This case exemplifies the commitment of law enforcement agencies to prevent drug trafficking and criminal activity from poisoning our communities, said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Alicia Jones.

“It also sends a clear message that we will relentlessly pursue and prosecute the leaders and members of these violent drug enterprises,” said Jones.

Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division, stated, “Our communities remain under attack by criminal drug trafficking organizations with no regard for the harm and destruction they cause. This investigation and subsequent arrests of the individuals in this violent drug trafficking organization demonstrate DEA’s commitment to protecting our community by destroying these drug trafficking organizations.”

Meeks, Latty, and Powell will now serve their sentences, bringing some measure of justice to the victims of their crimes.

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