Date: 09-04-2024

Case Style:

United States of America v. James Andrew McPherson; Brandon Wayne Johnson; Marcus Smith, a/k/a “Smoke”; Leslie Helinski; Tony Watson; Charity Porter

Case Number: 1:23-cr-00041

Judge: J. Randal Hall

Court: The United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia

Plaintiff's Attorney: The United States Attorney’s Office for Augusta

Defendant's Attorney:

Click Here For The Best Augusta, Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyer Directory

Description:

Augusta, Georgia criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendants charged with Meth trafficking sentences send six defendants to federal prison
Meth trafficking sentences send six defendants to federal prison

Six Augusta-area defendants were sentenced to substantial federal prison terms after pleading guilty to participation in a methamphetamine trafficking operation

“We applaud the work of our law enforcement partners in identifying and disrupting this meth-trafficking conspiracy,” s
said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “Our communities are safer with these illegal drug distributors off the streets.”

Investigators from the Drug Enforcement Administration worked with local law enforcement agencies to identify McPherson as the leader of a drug trafficking conspiracy that transported large quantities of high-purity methamphetamine for distribution in Richmond, Columbia, and Burke counties.

“Driven by greed, these drug traffickers’ activities posed a significant threat to the Augusta area and beyond,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “The success of this investigation is proof that those responsible for destroying our communities with methamphetamine will be held accountable.”

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Georgia State Patrol, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, and Burke County Sheriff’s Office, and the McDuffie County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted for the United States by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Z. Spitulnik.

Outcome:

Defendant was found guilty and sentenced as follows -

James Andrew McPherson was sentenced to 188 months in prison

Brandon Wayne Johnson Was sentenced to 87 months in prison

Marcus Smith, a/k/a “Smoke” was sentenced to 151 months in prison

Leslie Helinski the mother of James McPherson, was sentenced to 130 months in prison Charity Porter, 25, of Augusta, sentenced to 37 months in prison

Tony Watson Was sentenced to 120 months in prison

Charity Porter Was sentenced to 37 months in prison

There is no parole in the federal system.

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

Comments: