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From Scratch-Off to Slammer: Lottery Winner Gets 21 Years for Meth Conspiracy
BRUNSWICK, GA – A Waycross, Georgia man traded lottery luck for a lengthy federal prison sentence today. Ronnie Music, Jr., 46, was sentenced to 21 years by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood for his central role in a multi-state methamphetamine trafficking ring and for illegally possessing a significant arsenal of firearms. Music pled guilty on July 22, 2016, to conspiring to traffic large amounts of methamphetamine and to being a felon in possession of firearms.
The case, built on evidence presented in court and filings, reveals a cynical pattern. Music won a $3 million scratch-off lottery prize in February 2015. Instead of securing his future, he funneled the winnings directly into purchasing kilograms of crystal meth – commonly known as “Ice” – to fuel his drug dealing operation. The operation wasn’t subtle. In September 2015, federal agents moved in on Music’s co-conspirators attempting to offload over 10 pounds of meth in the parking lot of a Winn Dixie in Brunswick. Music, acting as the supplier, was present and observing when the deal went sideways.
Law enforcement didn’t have to wait long to connect Music directly to the product. Less than a month later, agents arrested him in Tennessee while he was completing a sale of several pounds of methamphetamine to a confidential informant. Adding to the severity of the charges, Music’s girlfriend and their infant daughter were passengers in the vehicle used for the deal. A subsequent search of Music’s home and workplace turned up a shocking cache: 11 firearms, including assault-style weapons, a prohibited sawed-off shotgun, and a stolen revolver. As a convicted felon, Music was legally barred from possessing any firearms.
“This case has received a great deal of light-hearted coverage because of Mr. Music’s unsound investment decision to buy crystal meth with his lottery winnings,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Jim Durham. “The truth of the matter is this: Mr. Music is a predator who has destroyed lives by pushing poison and fear. As law enforcement and prosecutors, our job is to protect our communities by sending predators like Music to federal prison for a very long time.” Tim Graden, ATF’s Savannah Field Office Resident Agent In Charge, echoed the sentiment, stating that ATF’s work “helps remove criminal organizations from our streets.”
The investigation, conducted under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), was a collaborative effort involving the ATF, DEA, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Glynn County Police Department, Glynn-Brunswick Narcotics Enforcement Team, Ware County Sheriff’s Office, and other local agencies. Law enforcement seized millions of dollars worth of methamphetamine, $517,485 in cash, multiple vehicles, 11 firearms, and thousands of rounds of ammunition – all of which were forfeited as part of Music’s sentence. Twenty-one other individuals have been indicted in connection with the conspiracy, with 20 already convicted.
Assistant United States Attorneys E. Gregory Gilluly, Jr. and Theodore S. Hertzberg prosecuted the case. For media inquiries, contact the United States Attorney’s Office at (912) 201-2547. This case serves as a stark reminder that ill-gotten gains, even those seemingly bestowed by luck, will not shield criminals from federal prosecution and a substantial prison sentence.
Key Facts
- State: Georgia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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