Four individuals involved in a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy in Macon, Georgia, were sentenced to federal prison. Denzelle Diangelo Willis, 34, received a sentence of 278 months followed by five years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. James Richard Fuller, 33, was sentenced to 181 months with five years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Julio Cesar Mendez, known as “Migo,” 29, was given a sentence of 135 months and five years of supervised release for distribution of methamphetamine. Deion Jocoley Howard, 31, was sentenced to 53 months and five years of supervised release for conspiracy.
The sentencing hearings took place on July 10 before U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell. In the federal system, parole is not an option.
U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes stated: “All those associated with these criminal organizations pushing large quantities of the most deadly and addictive drugs into the Middle District of Georgia will find their cases in federal court.” Jae W. Chung from the DEA Atlanta Division added: “This case represents the continued commitment of the DEA to identify and hold accountable those who engage in the distribution of dangerous drugs.”
Court documents revealed that DEA agents began investigating this drug trafficking organization in November 2022 after seizing nearly eleven kilograms of methamphetamine linked to another investigation involving Julian Coker’s organization. Willis and Mendez were found selling methamphetamine and heroin around Macon between February and March 2023 using Confidential Informants (CI). Substances tested contained fentanyl.
Further investigations using wiretaps uncovered that Mendez operated a stash house supplying street-level dealers while Howard acted as a broker connecting mid-level dealers with suppliers like Willis who sourced meth from Atlanta.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America aimed at eliminating cartels and protecting communities from violent crime perpetrators by leveraging resources from various Department initiatives including OCDETFs and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The investigation involved cooperation between DEA agents along with Bibb County Sheriff’s Office, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, and Peach County Sheriff’s Office under Criminal Chief Leah E. McEwen’s prosecution for the Government.
