Northwest Georgia Fentanyl Dealer Sentenced

ROME, Ga. – Sincere M. Billingslea, a three-time convicted felon and armed fentanyl dealer who operated in northwest Georgia, was sentenced to nine years in prison after his conviction on federal drug and weapons charges.

“The successful prosecution of this serial offender is a prime example of law enforcement working together to rid the streets of dangerous recidivist felons who continue to peddle poison for profit,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “With nearly a decade of imprisonment ahead of him, Billingslea will no longer cause trouble for the citizens of northwest Georgia.”

“Billingslea is a repeat offender who continued to pollute our community with his drugs, all while having guns he wasn’t supposed to be carrying,” said Mitchell Jackson, Supervisory Senior Resident Agent in FBI Atlanta’s Cartersville office. “The FBI will continue to work hand-in-hand with our law enforcement partners to keep dangerous criminals off our streets.”

“Cases like this highlight the importance of strong partnerships between local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. The successful removal of a repeat offender involved in trafficking fentanyl and illegally possessing firearms makes our community safer and sends a clear message that these crimes will not be tolerated,” said Major Mark Mayton, Special Operations Commander of the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office. “Sheriff Clark Millsap is proud of the work performed by the men and women of the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office and our law enforcement partners. Their dedication, professionalism, and commitment to public safety continue to make a difference in the lives of the citizens we serve.”

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: On December 30, 2024, law enforcement attempted to arrest Billingslea on an outstanding warrant as he left a Cartersville, Georgia motel in the backseat of a taxicab. As officers approached the taxicab, Billingslea yelled to the driver, “Go, go, go!” When the cab driver did not comply with Billingslea’s demand to drive off, Billingslea threw items into the front seat, including a recently stolen Glock pistol, another handgun, approximately two ounces of purple-colored fentanyl, over six ounces of methamphetamine, a black digital scale with suspected drug residue, a Gucci bag, and $3,450 in cash. Law enforcement promptly seized the contraband and took Billingslea into custody.

When law enforcement later searched Billingslea’s cellphone, they found several pictures and videos of Billingslea pointing a Glock handgun at the camera and flaunting drugs and stacks of cash. Billingslea was already a three-time convicted felon whose criminal history included aggravated assault, armed robbery, and obstruction of law enforcement. Accordingly, Billingslea was prohibited from possessing firearms.

The investigation further revealed that Billingslea had bought thousands of dollars’ worth of fentanyl and methamphetamine in Atlanta the night before his arrest and was selling it out of his Cartersville motel room.

On June 5, 2026, U.S. District Judge William M. Ray, II, sentenced Sincere M. Billingslea, a/k/a “Trouble,” 27, of Rockmart, Ga., to nine years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Billingslea was convicted on February 25, 2026, after he pleaded guilty possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bartow County Sheriff’s Office, and Bartow-Cartersville Drug Task Force.

Assistant United States Attorneys Calvin A. Leipold, III and Thomas M. Forsyth, III prosecuted the case.