Bahamian Drug Trafficker Charged with Cocaine Trafficking
ATLANTA, Georgia – Jonathan Eric Gardiner, a convicted felon and Bahamian national, has been charged with federal cocaine importation and conspiracy offenses.
Gardiner, 58, of Long Island, Bahamas, was arrested after being rescued from the Atlantic Ocean following a plane crash on May 14, 2026. The U.S. Coast Guard rescued all passengers, including Gardiner, who was in possession of $30,000 in Bahamian currency.
According to the indictment, Gardiner allegedly supplied large quantities of cocaine to drug trafficking organizations in the Northern District of Georgia and elsewhere from December 2022 to May 2026. He could allegedly distribute more than 2,000 kilograms at a time.
Gardiner has a prior conviction in the Southern District of Florida. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States and was sentenced to over 18 years in federal prison nearly 20 years ago.
The charges against Gardiner include conspiracy to import a controlled substance into the United States and conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute a controlled substance. He is currently in the custody of the United States Marshals Service awaiting trial.
The case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations.
Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges, and Gardiner is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
Criminal Charges: Conspiracy to import a controlled substance into the United States and conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute a controlled substance.
Date: May 14, 2026 (arrest date).
Current Status: Gardiner is currently in custody awaiting trial.
Amount: $30,000 in Bahamian currency was found on Gardiner when he was rescued.
Key Facts
- State: Georgia
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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