Georgia man gets long prison sentence for trafficking meth in Athens area

MACON, Ga. — A Georgia man was sentenced to 19 years in prison for his role in an inmate-directed armed drug conspiracy operating in Athens.

Brandan R. Gates, 37, of Commerce, was sentenced to serve 19 years in prison and five years of supervised release.

Gates was found guilty by a federal jury on Sept. 21, 2022, of one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Eight co-defendants also received various lengths of prison sentences for their participation in the same drug trafficking operation.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, one of Gates’ co-defendants, Malcody Dinges, conducted drug deals using contraband cell phones while he was an inmate at the Wheeler Correctional Facility.

Investigators learned that Dinges was communicating with Gates and other co-defendants about distributing methamphetamine in the Athens area.

They say Dinges would receive a fee for brokering the deals.

When federal agents searched Gates’ home they seized a handgun and methamphetamine.

TRENDING STORIES:

• Teens crash stolen car after breaking into vehicles in Peachtree City neighborhood, police say
• 17-year-old dies after being shot in Gwinnett County shopping center parking lot, police say
• Hunting dog rescued after falling 85 feet into Georgia rock quarry

“Drug dealing breeds violence and traffickers who engage in this dangerous lifestyle often protect their drug stash with firearms,” said Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “Consequently, these defendants will spend well-deserved time in prison. DEA and its law enforcement partners are committed to making communities safer by removing such criminals from the streets.”

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

IN OTHER NEWS:

17-year-old dies after being shot in Gwinnett County shopping center parking lot, police say

©2023 Cox Media Group