Roswell Man Charged In Prison Drug Trafficking Ring

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Atlanta, GA -- Three current Georgia Department of Corrections inmates and 14 other residents have been charged in federal court for their roles in a large drug trafficking scheme prosecutors say was operating within prison.

With the use of contraband cell phones inside prison and employing a network of brokers, distributors, and runners outside of prison, inmates allegedly controlled and managed the distribution of illegal narcotics throughout metro Atlanta and southeastern portion of the country, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia said.

“Once again, inmates have gained access to contraband cellular telephones and used them to organize and manage an extensive criminal enterprise from inside prison,” said U.S. Attorney John Horn. “This indictment alleges that these inmates capitalized on their near unfettered access to cell phones to not only continue their criminal activities, but to direct the criminal activities of others outside of prison. It makes no sense that, where prison is supposed to remove criminals from our community and rehabilitate them, the inmates continue to victimize society from behind prison bars.”

Horn’s case and the indictment alleges prison inmates across the state “conducted a wide-ranging drug trafficking conspiracy by leading, directing and managing a wide-ranging drug trafficking conspiracy and the activities of brokers, distributors and runners outside of prison via the use of contraband cellular telephones.”

The cell phones, equipped with internet access as well as touch screen capabilities, allowed prisoners to set up drug transactions. The indictment also charges that multiple phone were used at the same time to reach out to a larger network of drug suppliers, distributers, and couriers using voice calls, text messages and the WhatsApp Messenger to coordinate transactions.

The following individuals have been indicted, and many of the defendants made their initial appearances before United States Magistrate Judge Linda T. Walker.

Department of Corrections inmates who have been charged are:

• Francisco Palacios Baras, a/k/a “Chapparro,” a/k/a “Shorty,” a/k/a “Kiko,” 36, an inmate at Hancock State Prison in Sparta, has been charged with one count of conspiring to distribute at least 50 grams of methamphetamine and eleven counts of possessing meth with the intent to distribute.
• Johnathan Corey McLoon, a/k/a “Drop,” 30, an inmate at Valdosta State Prison, has been charged with one count of conspiring to distribute at least 50 grams of actual methamphetamine and two counts of possessing meth with the intent to distribute.
• Christopher Wayne Hildebrand, 33, an inmate at Costal Transition Center in Savannah, has been charged with one count of conspiring to distribute at least 50 grams of actual methamphetamine and one count of possessing meth with the intent to distribute.

While they were inmates, the three aforementioned defendants allegedly obtained contraband mobile phones and “used them to lead and manage an extensive drug trafficking network responsible for the trafficking in crystal methamphetamine in the Atlanta and elsewhere,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.

Additionally, Gainesville resident and paroled inmate Ruben Antonio Ruiz, known as “Scrapy” or “Flaco,” 36, also took part in the alleged drug trafficking ring. Ruiz is charged with one count of conspiring to distribute at least 50 grams of actual methamphetamine and one count of possessing meth with the intent to distribute.

Other defendants who have also been charged with their alleged participation outside prison walls include:

• Salvador Pineda Melendez (also known as Tomas Pineda Medoza), 30, of Marietta: one count of conspiring to distribute at least 50 grams of actual methamphetamine and two counts of possessing meth with the intent to distribute.
• Olga Veronica Ramirez Reyes, 27, of Marietta: one count of conspiring to distribute at least 50 grams of actual methamphetamine and five counts of possessing meth with the intent to distribute.
• Gustavo Adolfo Ramirez Reyes (known as Primo), 24, of Marietta: one count of conspiring to distribute at least 50 grams of actual methamphetamine and three counts of possessing meth with the intent to distribute.
• Jose Rolando Ramos Remez, 25, of Gainesville: one count of conspiring to distribute at least 500 grams of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of meth, one count of possessing meth with the intent to distribute and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
• Yony Israel Yanes Padilla, 26, of Gainesville: one count of conspiring to distribute at least 500 grams of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of meth, one count of possessing meth with the intent to distribute and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
• Troy Oneal Watkins, 46, of Roswell: one count of conspiring to distribute at least 50 grams of actual methamphetamine and one count of possessing meth with the intent to distribute.
• Gregory Landon Smith, 55, of Plainville: one count of conspiring to distribute at least 50 grams of actual methamphetamine and one count of possessing meth with the intent to distribute.
• Robert Lynn White, 55, of Silver Creek: one count of conspiring to distribute at least 50 grams of actual methamphetamine and one count of possessing meth with the intent to distribute.
• Billy Joe Foster, 35, of Tennessee: one count of conspiring to distribute meth and one count of possessing meth with the intent to distribute.
• George Travis Roach, 36, of Chattanooga, Tennessee: one count of conspiring to distribute at least 50 grams of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and one count of possessing meth with the intent to distribute.
• Melissa Leann Waters, 30, of Tennessee: one count of conspiring to distribute at least 50 grams of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of meth and one count of possessing meth with the intent to distribute.
• Charles Randall Warthen, 52, of Mableton: one count of conspiring to distribute at least five grams of actual methamphetamine, and one count of possessing meth with the intent to distribute.
• Walter Alvarado Lopez, a/k/a “Andy,” 28, of Atlanta: one count of conspiring to distribute at least five grams of actual methamphetamine and one count of possessing meth with the intent to distribute.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Assistant United States Attorney Tasheika Hinson is prosecuting the case.

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