Georgia Lottery Winner Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug and Gun Charges

BRUNSWICK GA - Ronnie Music, Jr.,45, of Waycross, Georgia, pled guilty last week before Chief U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood to federal drug trafficking and firearm charges. 

According to evidence presented during his guilty plea hearing, Music conspired with others to possess and distribute kilograms of methamphetamine in Ware County, Georgia and elsewhere.  The investigation revealed that in September, 2015, Music’s coconspirators were caught attempting to sell approximately 11 pounds of crystal meth, with a street value in excess of $500,000.  Music was identified as a source of supply for the meth.  The investigation further revealed that Music purchased the methamphetamine for resale with his own lottery winnings.  In 2015, Music won $3,000,000 in a Georgia scratch-off lottery game.  As part of the case, investigating agents seized over $1 million worth of methamphetamine, a large cache of firearms, thousands of rounds of ammunition, multiple vehicles, and over $600,000 in cash.

United States Attorney Ed Tarver stated, “Defendant Music decided to test his luck by sinking millions of dollars of lottery winnings into the purchase and sale of crystal meth.  As a result of his unsound investment strategy, Music now faces decades in a federal prison.”   

Music and other members of the conspiracy will be sentenced by Chief Judge Wood after the United States Probation Office conducts a presentence investigation.  Music faces a maximum possible sentence of life in prison.

The case was investigated by the ATF, DEA, and the Glynn-Brunswick Narcotics Enforcement Team (GBNET).  Assistant United States Attorneys E. Greg Gilluly, Jr. and Theodore Hertzberg are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.  For additional information, please contact First Assistant United States Attorney James D. Durham at (912) 201-2547.