Drug trafficking is taken very seriously by the federal authorities. However, in a recent case in Georgia, it’s federal workers who are facing charges of accepting bribes to deliver packages of cocaine.
In August, the U.S. Department of Justice reported 16 U.S. Metro Atlanta postal service workers were charged with allegedly accepting bribes to deliver large amounts of cocaine in a drug trafficking operation.
Reports claimed the workers used the U.S. mail system to transport cocaine into the Atlanta area.
The letter carriers are accused by agents of providing special addresses that the alleged drug traffickers could use to ship cocaine. They intercepted the packages containing drugs and delivered them to the “trafficker.”
However, the so called “trafficker” was in cahoots with law enforcement and the packages the workers delivered contained fake drugs.
Postal workers were linked to drug trafficking
David J. LeValley, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Atlanta Field Office, said:
“The allegations contained in these federal indictments are disturbing, to say the least. The blatant abdication of the public trust through the criminal conduct of these sixteen U.S. Postal Service employees absolutely stains the established trust of their peers and those that went before them at the U.S. Postal Service.”
The FBI said some of the postal employees recruited additional USPS employees to join their criminal scheme, and accepted additional money for drug packages delivered by recruits.
The feds worked with law enforcement in The DeKalb County in arresting the alleged traffickers.
DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston said in a press release her office is dedicated to aggressively fighting public corruption. She said the arrests highlighted the importance of “interagency cooperation” to effectively identify, investigate, and prosecute people who abuse positions of public trust regardless of geographical borders
Drug trafficking is a felony. It’s typically dealt with by the federal authorities, although state laws can also come into play. Sentences for this crime usually range from 3-5 years in prison to a life sentence.
If you have been charged with this serious crime, it’s vital to hire an experienced Georgia criminal defense lawyer. Call our Newnan-based law firm at (404) 913-1529.