ALBANY, Ga. – A Haines City, Florida, resident with a prolonged prison historical past and connections to a Mexican drug cartel was sentenced to jail for possession with intent to distribute roughly eight kilograms of methamphetamine ensuing from an I-75 visitors cease in South Georgia.
James E. Freitas, 48, was sentenced to serve 360 months in jail to be adopted by 5 years of supervised launch by U.S. District Judge Louis Sands on Dec. 29, 2022, after he beforehand pleaded responsible to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Co-defendant, Miguel L. Mora, 44, pleaded responsible to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Aug. 12, 2022, and is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 2. There isn’t any parole within the federal system.
“Individuals tied to criminal organizations trafficking large quantities of the most lethal controlled substances into our communities will face steep federal consequences for crimes which are contributing to the addiction and death of many Americans,” stated U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Local, state and federal law enforcement teams are working to dismantle these cartels and hold the people associated with them responsible.”
“The sentencing of this reoffender is the result of the collaborative efforts between DEA and its law enforcement partners who work tirelessly to eliminate the distribution of the insidious drug methamphetamine,” stated Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “This defendant will now face serious time in prison.”
According to courtroom paperwork, a Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office deputy tried to conduct a routine visitors cease for a driving violation as Freitas was touring on I-75 on July 11, 2019. Freitas was unable to present identification and gave conflicting information. As Freitas was standing exterior the automobile speaking with the deputy, Mora climbed into the entrance seat and drove away within the automotive. Mora drove the automobile right into a area after which fled on foot into the woods carrying a big bag. Mora was shortly apprehended; the bag that he carried from the automotive was searched and located to comprise 8,099 grams of 97% pure methamphetamine with an estimated avenue worth of $748,000. On the floorboard of the automotive, officers discovered a loaded .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol with an obliterated serial quantity possessed by Freitas.
A search warrant subsequently executed on Freitas’ cellphone discovered images of the gun, plus textual content and WhatsApp prompt messages detailing each defendants’ journey to and from Nashville, Tennessee, to buy and transport methamphetamine to a 3rd occasion in Florida. The WhatsApp messages have been between Freitas, a member of a Mexican drug cartel, and higher-ranking leaders throughout the group in regards to the distribution of methamphetamine.
Freitas has a prolonged prison historical past with prior felony drug convictions for possession and trafficking of managed substances in Florida. Mora has a prolonged prison historical past, with convictions in Arkansas and Florida, together with a previous felony conviction for trafficking amphetamine.
DEA and Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Morrison prosecuted this case.