A Calhoun man could face up to 40 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to running a multi-state drug trafficking operation from prison using cellphones and drones, authorities said.
Daniel Roger Alo, 46, pleaded guilty Monday to drug and weapons charges, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia Edward Tarver said. He was serving a sentence for a kidnapping conviction during the crimes.
“This defendant is an example of the enormous challenges that our law enforcement partners face in their fight against illegal drugs in our communities,” Tarver said. “Alo used readily available technology (drones and cell phones) to continue his substantial criminal behavior even while confined in a secure State prison. It is necessary and appropriate that his next stop be a federal prison.”
He and 15 others, including $3 million lottery winner Ronnie Music, were indicted on the charges in September. Authorities say Music used his winnings to buy drugs from the drug ring. Music is is in prison awaiting sentencing.
According to a release from Tarver, Alo admitted to forming a drug trafficking operation with gang members inside and outside the prison. Alo also used drones to smuggle cellphones and other contraband inside the prison, Tarver said.
Alo used the cellphones to coordinate the drug deals while outside members distributed crystal meth in Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia and other parts of the Southeast, authorities said.
Officials had already seized nearly $600,000, 11 pounds of methamphetamine and 10 guns from five of Alo’s co-conspirators in a 2015 undercover drug sting in Brunsiwck.
After the investigation, Trarver said authorities seized more than 15 pounds of methamphetamine, $600,000, two drones, 15 firearms, which were either stolen or had sawed off firearms, rounds of ammunition and multiple cars.
Alo could face between five and 40 years in federal prison, Tarver said. He will be sentenced after the U.S. Probation Office completers its presentence investigation.
Other facing charges in the investigation include:
Amberlie Wright, 23, Dallas, GA
Jason Prince, 30, Jesup, GA
Miranda Michelle Flowers, 42, Jesup, GA
Raymond Jarred Wilder, 33, Jesup, GA
Angelo Occhiuzzi, 35, Jesup, GA
Jason Lee, 35, Patterson, GA
Angela Pope, 30, Jesup, GA
Marquez Morehead, 33, Memphis, TN
Melvin Jackson, 27, Jesup, GA
Lawrence Larry, 29, Jesup, GA
Devontaye Pittman, 22, Jesup, GA
Irvison Fernandez Perez, 23, Jesup, GA
John Brian Schuyler, 40, Waycross, GA
Robert Lee Tayler, 44, Waycross, GA
Oronde Pender
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