A Bryan County man has been sentenced to nearly 16 years in federal prison for his role in a gang and drug trafficking conspiracy.
Jessie Ray Hurt, 40, of Ellabell, Ga., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge William T. Moore, Jr., to 188 months in prison, followed by four years of supervised release, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
Hurt was convicted felon who was part of Operation Vanilla Gorilla, an investigation targeting the Ghost Face Gangsters, a violent white supremacist street gang operated largely from inside Georgia’s prison system.
Hurt pled guilty in October 2018 to Possession of 5 Grams or More of Methamphetamine and Possession of a Firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court records, federal, state and local enforcement identified Hurt as a member of a drug trafficking organization through undercover purchases of methamphetamine and a search of Hurt’s home. During the search, investigators found a handgun, prescription narcotics, and a large quantity of methamphetamine hidden in a compartment in the floor of Hurt’s bedroom.
Hurt’s criminal history spans 21 years, with convictions on charges ranging from driving under the influence to multiple convictions for possession, manufacturing and trafficking methamphetamine, and illegal firearms possession.
“Our communities deserve better than to be victimized repeatedly by career criminals who seem to serve only fractions of their sentences before returning to the streets and to their illegal activities,” said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
Key Facts
- State: Georgia
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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