Macon Attorney Sentenced For Narcotics Distribution

G.F. Peterman, III, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, announces that Holly Hogue Edwards, age 36, a former attorney from Macon, Georgia, was sentenced today to serve three years on probation and pay a $1000 fine for distribution of oxycodone and methamphetamine.  The sentence was handed down by the Honorable Marc T. Treadwell, United States District Judge, in Macon. 

Ms. Edwards pled guilty to the charges on April 20, 2016.  In her plea agreement, she admitted that on June 4, 2015, after being introduced to a Georgia Bureau of Investigation undercover agent through a confidential informant, she made arrangements to sell the undercover agent ten (10) tablets of oxycodone and an “eight ball” (three and a half grams) of methamphetamine.  Ms. Edwards met the undercover agent in the parking lot of fast food restaurant and provided the undercover agent with a sample of methamphetamine to try, explaining it was from a different source of supply from the source she typically uses.  The agent then provided Ms. Edwards with $500 of official funds for the “eight ball” of methamphetamine and the ten (10) oxycodone tablets.  Ms. Edwards left to meet with her source of supply.  Agents observed Ms. Edwards travel to a nearby gas station and meet with her source of supply.  Ms. Edwards then returned and handed the undercover agent the ten (10) oxycodone tablets, stating that she did not get the “eight ball” of methamphetamine but would get it to him later in the day.

In addition to the sentence imposed by the court, Ms. Edwards surrendered her license to practice law last month based on the charges for which she appeared this morning.  In accepting the surrender of Ms. Edwards’ license, the Supreme Court of Georgia stated that such action was “tantamount to disbarment.”

Daniel R. Salter, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division commented, “Drug trafficking often leads to morally debased actions of those involved, which was the case in this investigation. This attorney was licensed to practice law, but this does not mean that she was above the law. This investigation would have not been possible without the collaborative efforts between our local, state and federal law enforcement counterparts.”

This case was investigated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.  Assistant United States Attorney Beth Howard handled the prosecution for the Government.

Questions concerning this case should be directed to Pamela Lightsey, Public Information Officer, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2603.