Burke County men indicted for operation of illegal pill factory

Two Burke County men have been indicted on federal drug trafficking charges for operating an illegal pill factory.

Cedrick Gabriel Brown, a/k/a “Pop,” 47, and Telly Savalas Carswell, 46, both of Midville, Ga., are charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and To Distribute More than 500 Grams of Methamphetamine and a Quantity of Heroin; Possession of More than 500 Grams of Methamphetamine and a Quantity of Heroin with Intent to Distribute; and Maintaining or Using a Drug Involved Premises, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The charges carry a possible penalty upon conviction of up to life in prison and substantial financial penalties, followed by up to five years of supervised release.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“Deadly, addictive and illegal drugs – especially opioids and methamphetamine – are ripping asunder small towns and rural communities throughout our country,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “With our law enforcement partners, we are determined to eradicate these poisons from our streets.”

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration began an investigation in January 2020, and with the Burke County Sheriff’s Office, DEA agents conducted a search of the home on May 7, 2020, and found a pill press, along with methamphetamine, heroin and other drugs; nearly $9,000 in cash; and paraphernalia related to drug trafficking.

“Criminals rely on pill presses to create dangerous counterfeit medications which contain toxic substances such as methamphetamine, heroin and other dangerous and potentially deadly drugs,” said the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division Robert J. Murphy. “DEA and its law enforcement partners are committed to keeping our neighborhoods safe from dangerous drugs.”

Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The case is being investigated by the DEA and the Burke County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Josephson.