200 Month Sentence for Smuggler Moving Contraband Into Ga Prisons through Meat Packing Plant

A Jackson, Georgia man caught dropping off a large amount of illicit drugs and contraband at a Georgia Correctional Industries (GCI) meat packing plant was sentenced to 200 months in prison, announced Charles “Charlie” Peeler, the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia. Brandon Ray, 39, of Jackson, was sentenced to 200 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell on Wednesday, January 8, 2020 after he pleaded guilty to one count possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. There is no parole in the federal system.

Two anonymous tipsters reported to authorities that Ray would be dropping contraband at the GCI meat packing plant in Milledgeville, Georgia on May 6, 2018 after dark. Under surveillance, officers observed Ray enter the GCI plant at 4:00 a.m. on the morning of May 7, 2018 through an unlocked gate. Ray was observed hiding contraband underneath dumpsters next to the GCI building. The defendant was arrested, and officers seized 1,287.2 grams of marijuana, 38 cell phones, 25 cell phone chargers, two blue tooth ear pieces, a quantity of cigarette tobacco, a digital scale and more than five grams of methamphetamine.

“The smuggling of drugs and contraband into our prison system is a direct threat to the safety of prison employees and prisoners, and undermines the very purposes of incarceration – deterrence, punishment and rehabilitation,” said U.S. Attorney Charlie Peeler. “As reflected by this stiff prison sentence, we will prosecute those engaged in distributing contraband into our prisons to the fullest extent of the law. I want to thank DEA and the Georgia Department of Corrections for investigating this case, and helping stop the movement of a large quantity of contraband into our prison system.”

“The punishment in this case clearly fits the crime. This defendant brazenly attempted to smuggle contraband, which included marijuana and methamphetamine, into a prison,” said Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “DEA is committed to keeping dangerous and potentially deadly drugs out of our society, period. Because of the hard work and dedication of investigators in this case, this criminal will have time to think about the crimes he committed.”

“Contraband in the hands of inmates gives them the ability to continue their criminal enterprise, so the support and efforts of our law enforcement partners in stopping those who attempt to introduce these items is paramount in our commitment to public safety,” said GDC Commissioner Timothy C. Ward.  “We are pleased to see that justice has been served on this individual for his role in jeopardizing the safe and secure operations of our facilities.” 

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Georgia Department of Corrections with the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office housing the defendant. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Howard prosecuted the case for the Government.