Two more charged in massive meth ring
Published 1:00 pm Monday, July 16, 2018
- Colquitt County drug agents say they found six ounces of methamphetamine and about 20 grams of marijuana when they arrested Willie Clayton on a federal warrant July 6. Clayton's son, Willie Dillard, was arrested during a separate incident the same day.
MOULTRIE, Ga. — The number of people arrested in connection with a large Colquitt-County based methamphetamine ring grew by two more to 42 last Friday with the arrest of a father and son.
The father, Willie Clayton, was arrested during a traffic stop made at about 10 p.m., said Moultrie Police Department Lt. Steve Exum, who heads up the joint Drug Enforcement Team with the Colquitt County Sheriff’s Office.
“There was an active federal warrant (charging) him with conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute,” Exum said.
Clayton was arrested about a month ago Colquitt County on a state charge of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
When Clayton was stopped July 6 on First Avenue Southeast, just south of the courthouse square, officers found additional drugs, Exum said.
“Today during the arrest we found six ounces of methamphetamine and about 20 grams of marijuana, along with scales and packaging materials used to sell drugs,” Exum said. “About $8,500 is the street value of the drugs.”
Clayton was indicted in April, and an arrest warrant was issued in June, he said.
“Our (state) charges will be added to the original federal charges,” Exum said.
Those people who are convicted in federal court generally will serve more time in prison than those found guilty on state charges because there is no parole in the federal system.
At about 1:30 p.m. Friday officers arrested Willie Dillard in the 1200 block of Sixth Avenue Northwest.
Dillard, who is Clayton’s son, also is charged in a federal indictment with conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
Police found no drugs at the site of Dillard’s arrest, Exum said. He does not live in the residence where he was found, but was believed to be visiting friends there.
Clayton and Dillard were immediately handed over to federal authorities.
Both men are thought to be part of what authorities are calling the Fuller trafficking operation. The name refers to Boris Fuller, who was one of 28 people — most from Colquitt County — who were the first indicted in April 2017.
Fuller and the 27 others were all indicted on charges of conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. Some involved had additional charges.
Fuller pleaded guilty on April 22, 2018, to the conspiracy charge. At least 16 other Colquitt County residents entered guilty pleas last year and in 2018.
Prosecutors have not notified the media of any of the convicted men and women being sentenced. According to earlier information those involved face a minimum sentence of five years’ incarceration and/or fines of $250,000. Fuller and some of the others face the possibility of life sentences, a maximum fine of $10 million or both.
An additional six Colquitt County residents — three men and three women — were arrested over a period of several days in mid-June. They also are accused of being part of the Fuller operation.
The investigation that was the basis for all of the arrests was initiated by the Drug Enforcement Team, which received assistance from other state and federal agencies, and lasted for more than a year up to around April 1, 2017.
The father, Willie Clayton, was arrested during a traffic stop made at about 10 p.m., said Moultrie Police Department Lt. Steve Exum, who heads up the joint Drug Enforcement Team with the Colquitt County Sheriff’s Office.
“There was an active federal warrant (charging) him with conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute,” Exum said.
Clayton was arrested about a month ago Colquitt County on a state charge of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
When Clayton was stopped July 6 on First Avenue Southeast, just south of the courthouse square, officers found additional drugs, Exum said.
“Today during the arrest we found six ounces of methamphetamine and about 20 grams of marijuana, along with scales and packaging materials used to sell drugs,” Exum said. “About $8,500 is the street value of the drugs.”
Clayton was indicted in April, and an arrest warrant was issued in June, he said.
“Our (state) charges will be added to the original federal charges,” Exum said.
Those people who are convicted in federal court generally will serve more time in prison than those found guilty on state charges because there is no parole in the federal system.
At about 1:30 p.m. Friday officers arrested Willie Dillard in the 1200 block of Sixth Avenue Northwest.
Dillard, who is Clayton’s son, also is charged in a federal indictment with conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
Police found no drugs at the site of Dillard’s arrest, Exum said. He does not live in the residence where he was found, but was believed to be visiting friends there.
Clayton and Dillard were immediately handed over to federal authorities.
Both men are thought to be part of what authorities are calling the Fuller trafficking operation. The name refers to Boris Fuller, who was one of 28 people — most from Colquitt County — who were the first indicted in April 2017.
Fuller and the 27 others were all indicted on charges of conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. Some involved had additional charges.
Fuller pleaded guilty on April 22, 2018, to the conspiracy charge. At least 16 other Colquitt County residents entered guilty pleas last year and in 2018.
Prosecutors have not notified the media of any of the convicted men and women being sentenced. According to earlier information those involved face a minimum sentence of five years’ incarceration and/or fines of $250,000. Fuller and some of the others face the possibility of life sentences, a maximum fine of $10 million or both.
An additional six Colquitt County residents — three men and three women — were arrested over a period of several days in mid-June. They also are accused of being part of the Fuller operation.
The investigation that was the basis for all of the arrests was initiated by the Drug Enforcement Team, which received assistance from other state and federal agencies, and lasted for more than a year up to around April 1, 2017.
