Jury Convicts Macon Residents for Armed Fentanyl, Meth, Heroin Trafficking

MACON, Ga. – A federal jury convicted two Macon residents and members of a local criminal street gang organization on multiple federal charges Monday evening for their roles in the armed distribution of large quantities of drugs, which often tested to be deadly fentanyl mixes.

Johnifer Dernard Barnwell aka “Whoop” aka “Malixe,” 37, of Macon, and Kenneth Emanuel Pertillo aka “Fat Boy,” 37, of Macon, West Virginia and North Carolina, were found guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine and heroin, and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine and cocaine base. Barnwell was also convicted of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The trial began on Sept. 25 before U.S. District Judge Royal, concluding Oct. 2. Both defendants face a maximum sentence of life in prison on each narcotics charge and a $10,000,000 fine. Barnwell additionally faces five consecutive years in prison and a maximum $250,000 fine for the firearms charge. Sentencing will be determined by the Court. The defendants are not eligible for parole.

“As part of our collective commitment to directly address violence in Macon, law enforcement conducted this lengthy investigation to unravel a violent and armed organized criminal group distributing large amounts of fentanyl, often sold to people as other drugs,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “In collaboration with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners, our office is resolved to bring justice to those who terrorize our neighborhoods with unrelenting violence and poison our communities with fentanyl and other deadly drugs.”

“Gangs wreak havoc on local residents, engaging in violence and peddling dangerous drugs that devastate communities and families," said Senior Supervisory Special Agent Robert Gibbs of FBI Macon. "As this case demonstrates, cooperation between federal, state and local law enforcement is vital to dismantling violent criminal enterprises and keeping our communities safe."

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, FBI began investigating a large-scale fentanyl, heroin and methamphetamine distribution organization in Macon and the Central Georgia region in March 2020. Federal agents identified Pertillo and Barnwell as distributors and part of the MOB (Money Over Bitches) sect of the Mafia criminal street gang. To advance the investigation, agents conducted multiple controlled purchases from various defendants in the case and obtained orders authorizing wiretaps on five phones used by members of the organization, including Barnwell. Controlled purchases occurred at trap houses on Mimosa Drive and Culver Street, and at a local nightclub, among other locations. Illegal drugs being sold as “heroin” often tested as a fentanyl mix.

On July 20, 2021, FBI executed search warrants at eleven Macon addresses identified as trap houses or distribution locations on Mimosa Drive, Culver Street, Forest Hill Road, Riverside Park Boulevard, Lucerne Drive, Shurling Drive and Kingsview Drive. Agents found approximately eight kilograms of fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine and cocaine base plus 20 firearms, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, large-capacity firearm magazines and more than $50,000 cash. At one location—an apartment identified as a drug “lab” at 3990 Riverside Park Blvd. where Barnwell and Pertillo would mix fentanyl and heroin in a kitchen blender before selling it—agents found approximately 2.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, nearly one kilogram of pure fentanyl, more than one kilogram of a pure fentanyl chemical analogue and more than two kilograms of blends containing fentanyl, heroin and fentanyl analogue mix. Agents also found nearly half a kilogram of pure heroin, more than 280 grams of cocaine base, 80 grams of cocaine and 64 grams of ketamine. Agents seized several firearms, a fully loaded AR14 drum magazine, ammunition and $5,778 cash at that location.

In all, the organization is responsible for distributing or possessing with the intent to distribute more than three kilograms of fentanyl or fentanyl analogue, 2.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, nearly two kilograms of heroin and significant quantities of cocaine base and cocaine. 

The following co-defendants have been convicted and are awaiting sentencing:

Christopher Leon Coleman aka “Slim,” 41, of Macon, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, including fentanyl, heroin and methamphetamine. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years up to a maximum of life in prison and a $10,000,000 fine;

Troy Truelle Williams, Sr., aka “Ty, 54, of Macon, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, including fentanyl and heroin. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years up to a maximum of 40 years in prison to be followed by six years of supervised release and a $2,000,000 fine;

De’Kerio Ja’mel Coleman aka “Dee,” 35, of Macon, pleaded guilty to distribution of fentanyl. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $1,000,000 fine;

Joshua Antoine Green aka “J” or “Jay,” 32, of Macon, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, including fentanyl, heroin and methamphetamine. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $1,000,000 fine;

Gregory Bernard Jolly aka “Stank,” 38, of Macon, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, including fentanyl, heroin and methamphetamine. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $1,000,000 fine;

Johnnie B. Lowe, 67, of Macon, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, including fentanyl. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $1,000,000 fine;

Rochelle Oliver aka “Chelle,” 40, of Macon, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. She faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $1,000,000 fine;

Recardo Keon Ray aka “Keon,” 38, of Macon, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, including fentanyl, heroin and methamphetamine. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $1,000,000 fine;

Tiara Thomas aka “Red,” 23, of Macon, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, including fentanyl. She faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $1,000,000 fine; and

Michael Clifford White, 40, of Macon, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, including fentanyl. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $1,000,000 fine.

The following co-defendants have been convicted and sentenced:

Romello Campbell, 21, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on May 9 after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, including fentanyl, heroin and methamphetamine;

Diamond Monique Thomas, 27, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 96 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on July 11 after she pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, including fentanyl, heroin and methamphetamine; and

Jameliha Shalonda Coleman aka “Juicy,” 26, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 90 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on June 9 after she pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, including fentanyl, heroin and methamphetamine.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

The case was investigated by the FBI, with assistance from numerous agencies who participated in executing search warrants and conducting arrests, including the DEA, the GBI, the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office, the Butts County Sheriff’s Office, the Bleckley County Sheriff’s Office, the Houston County Sheriff’s Office, the Georgia Department of Corrections, the Perry Police Department and the Athens-Clarke County Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joy Odom is prosecuting the case for the Government.