Atlanta, GA – A sweeping federal investigation has brought down a major methamphetamine trafficking ring that moved thousands of kilograms of drugs into Georgia by hiding them in boxes of jalapeños shipped from Mexico, according to details released through a recent federal announcement.
The case, widely referenced in federal court filings, outlines an operation that converted and distributed meth across the state throughout 2024, exposing a complex supply chain involving multiple counties, a conversion lab, and more than a dozen defendants.
A Hidden Drug Pipeline Moving Through Georgia
Authorities say the trafficking network relied on an unusual concealment method: hiding meth within truckloads of jalapeños. The drugs moved into Georgia, where the organization operated a conversion laboratory at a residence on Mountain Creek Church Road in Monroe. Court documents indicate the ring distributed more than 3,200 kilograms of methamphetamine across the state in 2024.
Federal agents first uncovered the activity in January 2024 after receiving reports that James Len Ramey, 53, of Comer, was selling kilogram quantities of meth from the Rapid Lube auto shop in Athens, where he was employed. That tip quickly escalated into a multi-agency investigation.
Discovery of a Large-Scale Meth Conversion Lab
Investigators traced the activity to a Monroe residence where they found an active methamphetamine conversion laboratory. The property’s backyard was littered with rotting jalapeños and discarded shipping boxes, federal agents reported during the investigation.
On June 30, 2024, FBI surveillance led Georgia State Patrol to stop a truck driven by Kendell Cawthon, 60, of Baldwin. Inside the truck bed, authorities found 20 kilograms of pure methamphetamine. Shortly after, Rapid Lube workers uncovered an additional six kilograms hidden inside oil filter boxes.
A subsequent August 13 search warrant at the Monroe residence uncovered more than four kilograms of finished crystal meth and enough liquid meth to produce more than 300 kilograms of the final product, according to DEA estimates. A recovered drug ledger showed that 1,546.5 kilograms of meth had been processed at the site in just six months.
Officials Highlight the Scope of the Operation
During the investigation, U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes described the trafficking ring as a significant threat to the region.
“This Operation Take Back America case amplifies the kind of major law enforcement efforts occurring across the Middle District of Georgia, focused on breaking dangerous cartels and armed drug trafficking organizations that destroy lives.”
Sentences Already Imposed and More Expected
Several defendants have already received substantial federal sentences:
- Christopher Hyatt, 46, LaGrange – 292 months in prison
- Uriel Garcia, 34, Mexico – 240 months
- Jared Kenyatta Calhoun, 33, Birmingham – 210 months
- Ebony Jones-Tate, 33, Birmingham – 90 days home confinement
Four additional defendants arrested at the Monroe property — Uriel Garcia, Yuretzi Adame Gomez, Yirla Adame Gomez, and Rafael Gomez Flores, all of Mexico — have pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges.
Seven more individuals, including Ramey, Cawthon, Bonterris Turner, Demetrius Appling, Yirla Gomez, Rafael Gomez, and Andrea Robinson, are set for sentencing on January 12, 2026. Yuretzi Gomez will be sentenced on February 11, 2026. Each faces possible life imprisonment, with mandatory minimums ranging from 10 to 20 years and fines up to $10 million.
Meth’s Impact and Ongoing Enforcement Efforts
DEA Atlanta Division Special Agent Robert J. Murphy emphasized the broader threat posed by methamphetamine trafficking.
“Methamphetamine destroys families, fuels violent crime and erodes the safety of our neighborhoods. By taking down this network of a dozen traffickers, we’re not just removing drugs, we’re removing the source of addiction, exploitation and tragedy in our communities.”
The coordinated takedown involved multiple agencies, including the FBI Middle Georgia Safe Streets Gang Task Force, DEA, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Walton County Sheriff’s Office, Athens-Clarke County Police, and Georgia State Patrol.
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