AUGUSTA, Georgia: A Dearing man has been sentenced in federal court for distributing methamphetamine.
The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall and announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
Shawn Duwell Grier , 54, of Dearing, Georgia, was sentenced to 120 months in prison and a $2,500 fine followed by four years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute 500 grams or more of Methamphetamine.
Grier’s co-defendant, Willie Miles , 80, of Augusta, was sentenced to five years of probation after pleading guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 grams or more of Methamphetamine.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents and testimony, investigators with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) initiated an investigation into the distribution of narcotics by Grier. With the assistance of the McDuffie County Sheriff’s Office, investigators conducted a search of Grier’s residence where large quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine were discovered.
Investigators determined that Grier would receive quantities of methamphetamine from a distributor in Atlanta, and on at least one occasion, he directed Miles to make the pick-up and delivery.
“Peddling dangerous narcotics inflicts profound harm on our communities, fueling addiction and undermining public safety,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “Thanks to the dedicated, collaborative efforts of the DEA and the McDuffie County Sheriff’s Office, these individuals have been held accountable, and a significant supply of dangerous drugs have been permanently removed from our streets.”
“Methamphetamine distribution threatens the safety and well-being of our communities,” said Michael J. Connolly, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “This 10-year sentence represents accountability and is the result of law-enforcement officers working together to investigate and disrupt the illegal drug trade. We thank the McDuffie County Sheriff’s Office for their partnership and continued commitment to keeping dangerous drugs out of our communities.”
The DEA and McDuffie County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the investigation of this case and was prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey L. Scanlon.
Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office — Southern District of Georgia — U.S. Department of Justice press release.