Final Member Of Major Middle Georgia Methamphetamine Organization Sentenced To Life In Prison Without Parole

MACON: Charles E. Peeler, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, announces that Russell Todd Mathis, age 45, of Warner Robins, Georgia, was sentenced, on September 19, 2018, to life in prison for his role in a methamphetamine and marijuana distribution conspiracy.  Mr. Mathis received a mandatory life sentence because he had two prior drug convictions.  The sentence was handed down by U. S. District Court Judge Marc T. Treadwell in Macon.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Mr. Mathis was convicted of the charges on June 6, 2018 following a three-day jury trial.  Evidence presented at trial showed that from July 2016 to October 2016, Mr. Mathis was a customer of Walter Williams, a/k/a “Bubba,” of Lizella, Georgia.  Mr. Mathis purchased methamphetamine from Mr. Williams and distributed it to a number of other distributors in Middle Georgia.  At Mr. Mathis’ trial, Mr. Williams estimated that he distributed one to two pounds of methamphetamine to Mr. Mathis weekly for 16 weeks.

Mr. Mathis was the sole defendant to go to trial.  Eleven co-defendants entered guilty pleas and were previously sentenced:

• Ruben Perez, age 32 of Covington, Georgia
  • Guilty plea entered:    February 27, 2018
  • Offense:                     Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
  • Sentence:                   20 years imprisonment
• Antonio Mendez-Ramos, age 33, of Jonesboro, Georgia and Mexico
  • Guilty plea entered:    March 21, 2018
  • Offense:                     Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
  • Sentence:                   17 years and 6 months imprisonment
• Walter Williams a/k/a “Bubba,” age 40, of Lizella, Georgia
  • Guilty plea entered:    December 1, 2017
  • Offense:                     Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
  • Sentence:                   16 years and 8 months imprisonment
• James Howell, a/k/a “Flip,” age 28, of Macon, Georgia
  • Guilty plea entered:    November 20, 2017
  • Offense:                     Distribution of methamphetamine
  • Sentence:                   12 years and 7 months imprisonment
• Ashlee Shaw, age 29, of Lizella, Georgia
  • Guilty plea entered:    March 20, 2018
  • Offense:                     Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
  • Sentence:                   10 years imprisonment
• Shana Walker, age 33, of Macon, Georgia
  • Guilty plea entered:    December 19, 2017
  • Offense:                     Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
  • Sentence:                   8 years and 1 month imprisonment
• Milton Dobbin Evans, age 66, of Macon, Georgia
  • Guilty plea entered:    February 27, 2018
  • Offense:                     Use of Communications Facility in Causing or Facilitating the Commission of Felonies under the Controlled Substances Act
  • Sentence:                   4 years imprisonment
• Layla Keaney, age 38, of Gray, Georgia
  • Guilty plea entered:    December 14, 2017
  • Offense:                     Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
  • Sentence:                   18 months imprisonment
• Danna Stokes, age 38, of Bonaire, Georgia
  • Guilty plea entered:    February 27, 2018
  • Offense:                     Use of Communications Facility in Causing or Facilitating the Commission of Felonies under the Controlled Substances Act
  • Sentence:                   1 year and 1 day imprisonment
• Bobby Martinez, age 28, of East Point, Georgia
  • Guilty plea entered:    April 16, 2018
  • Offense:                     Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
  • Sentence:                   5 years of probation
• Chadwick Nicholson, age 41, of Lizella, Georgia
  • Guilty plea entered:    December 21, 2017
  • Offense:                     Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana
  • Sentence:                   5 years of probation

“Methamphetamine continues to be one of the most destructive drugs in our district.  It not only ruins the lives of those who choose to use it and choose to deal it, it also affects families, law enforcement, healthcare providers, governments, and citizens across our district,” said United States Attorney Charles E. Peeler.  “This life sentence sends a strong message that our office and our law enforcement partners will not rest until we hold accountable those responsible for spreading this poison.  I want to thank the DEA, GBI, Peach County Sheriff’s Office, Bibb County Sheriff’s Office, and Houston County Sheriff’s Office for leading the charge in this matter.” 

“Bubba Williams was a major supplier in the Middle Georgia area for some time.  Todd Mathis was his #1 distributor, and he was responsible for spreading a lot of this crystal poison in our community.  It’s good to see local, state and federal law enforcement working together to take someone like him off the streets,” said Peach County Sheriff Terry Deese.  “This might not stop the flow of methamphetamine to this area but it will slow it down for some time.  It will take a while for someone else to come in and set up a network such as the one we have just dismantled.”

“The cocktail of deadly chemicals used to manufacture methamphetamine is a recipe for disaster,” said Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “These substances are not only volatile and toxic, but they also destroy families, communities and lives.  Because of the collective effort between DEA, its local, state and federal law enforcement counterparts and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, these defendants were brought to justice and will no longer be able to distribute this insidious drug.”

“These convictions demonstrate the great work of law enforcement at all levels to investigate and prosecute the distribution of illegal drugs affecting Georgia and our surrounding states,” said GBI Director Vernon Keenan.  “The GBI remains committed to working with our local and federal partners in drug enforcement to address these types of crimes.”

This case was investigated by the Peach County Sheriff’s Office, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Georgia Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office and Houston County Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth S. Howard handled the prosecution of the defendants who have been sentenced.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Crane is handling the prosecution of Mr. Mathis.   

Questions concerning this release should be directed to Pamela Lightsey, Public Information Officer, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2603 or pam.lightsey@usdoj.gov.