In a recent development, nine individuals from Georgia have entered guilty pleas for their involvement in a drug trafficking operation dealing in fentanyl and methamphetamine.
The investigation into this operation commenced in October 2021 and concluded in June 2022.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Georgia released a statement on Thursday, identifying Heather Breland, 39, as the primary supplier for the drug trafficking network operating in Buckhead. Breland was convicted of distributing substantial quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine to Raiford Reeves, 43, from her high-rise condominium in the Atlanta suburb.
Court records disclosed a series of text messages and phone calls between Reeves and Breland, outlining the transactions of illegal substances between the two. Upon acquiring the drugs from Breland, Reeves would then distribute them to the seven other defendants for further sale.
According to WSB-TV, agents trailed Breland on her journey to Macon, where she was to sell drugs to Reeves. The Drug Enforcement Administration agents involved in the case also discovered that Breland maintained a self-storage unit in Macon, where she stored unsold drugs.
On May 21, 2022, co-defendant Randall Heath utilized an airport shuttle service to travel to Atlanta. It was reported that Breland arranged for the shuttle to transport Heath to her apartment. Heath returned on May 25 via the same shuttle service, and was observed departing the shuttle station with a suitcase before entering his own vehicle.
During a subsequent traffic stop, authorities reportedly found a kilogram of methamphetamine inside Heath's suitcase. In the wake of this incident, agents executed a search warrant on May 26 at a motel in Warner Robins, where Reeves and Kendall Howard, 31, were residing.
Officials reported that Reeves was attempting to dispose of methamphetamine in a toilet as agents entered the room. Despite this, authorities managed to seize methamphetamine, fentanyl, oxycodone, alprazolam, codeine, clonazepam, and a 9mm semi-automatic pistol during the search.
On the same day, a second search warrant was executed at Breland's apartment. As agents arrived, Breland reportedly fled the scene in her Range Rover. The U.S. Attorney's Office reported that agents "seized 3.266 kilograms of pure methamphetamine, 14.72 grams of fentanyl, cocaine, marijuana, a 9mm semi-automatic pistol, a .22 magnum caliber revolver, two cellphones and $78,353 cash."
A third search warrant was executed on Breland's self-storage unit in Macon on the same day. During the search, authorities discovered eight pounds of marijuana in a Louis Vuitton duffle bag.
Breland managed to flee to North Carolina, where she reportedly altered her vehicle's license plate and changed her hair color and length.
The court has yet to determine the sentencing for all involved parties. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, none of the defendants are eligible for parole.
U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary stated, Heather Breland went to great lengths to evade justice for supplying kilos of deadly narcotics to her network of drug distributors in Central Georgia. Ultimately, she was caught and will now be held accountable for her crimes, along with her co-defendants.
He added, This case is the result of a lengthy investigation by the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force, a group of law enforcement agencies working hand-in-hand across the Middle District of Georgia to crack down on criminal organizations doing the most harm in our communities.
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