A case that has been ongoing for almost four years is one plea closer to conclusion with four out of its original 35 defendants remaining as of last week. Morgan Pierce Corley pled guilty March 26 to charges under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizatons Act and received a 20-year sentence with nine years to serve and credit for time he has spent in prison since being arrested in September of 2004.
Following the service of the nine years, the remainder of the sentence may be served on probation. As a condition of the plea agreement, Corley agreed to testify truthfully at any trial or hearing of his co-defendants.
The four remaining defendants are Virginia Howells, Tony Leonard Collins, James Wendell Faulk and Susie McCullough. Of the four, Howells is considered as the last of the major players in the drug case.
Luis Camacho, another key player, entered a guilty plea in 2006 and received a 20-year sentence with 10 years to serve.
The multiple defendants were arrested and charged under the RICO Act in a ‘drug bust’ that was touted as the largest in the Middle Georgia area in the past 10 years.
The investigation leading to the arrests covered a seven-month period and included 17 law enforcement agencies spearheaded by the Jones County Sheriff’s Department.
Convictions under the RICO Act carry sentences from five to 20 years, and the length of the sentences vary depending on the defendant’s involvement in the crime. Most of the locals involved in buying the drugs have received probation, and only the suspects considered in distribution of the drugs have been given prison time.
Arrests in the case spanned Middle Georgia and Atlanta areas, seizing several ounces of ‘ice’, a form of methamphetamine, and cash. Officers also seized at least 15 vehicles and other assets.
Assistant District Attorney Gregory Bushway said he felt good about Corley’s sentence and anticipates that the four remaining defendants will go to trial. He said he is glad that the case appears to be coming to its conclusion but commented that it has taken longer than expected.
“All that have entered guilty pleas will be expected to testify at any trial of their co-defendants,” he said. “It’s been unwieldy dealing with 35 defendants. Many have changed attorneys, and there is a lot of evidence to be reviewed.”
