Feds: GDC Inmate Used Contraband Cell Phone to Work with Cartels

A Georgia Department of Corrections (DOC) prisoner and Sureños 13 gang member was sentenced to serve 330 months in a federal prison this week for his involvement in a large armed drug trafficking conspiracy directed out of jail facilities in Mexico and Georgia that is responsible for distributing more than 100 kilograms of methamphetamine.

David Zavala aka “Toro,” 30, of Mexico, was incarcerated at a Georgia Department of Corrections facility when the crimes took place. Currently, he’s being housed at the Georgia Diagnostic & Classification Prison in Jackson, but it’s unclear where he was house at the time of the acts. His initial charges, out of Gordon County, included Armed Robbery and False Imprisonment. He was set to be released from state custody on October 29, 2023.

Zavala has now been sentenced to serve 330 months in federal prison to be followed by five years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge C. Ashley Royal on Oct. 16 after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Dec. 11, 2020. Zavala is not eligible for parole.

According to the US Department of Justice press release:

According to court documents, law enforcement officers in the Middle District of Georgia began investigating Zavala’s drug trafficking organization in 2016, along with related criminal networks operating from jail facilities in Mexico and Georgia. On May 30, 2016, co-defendant Andrew Young was arrestedi n Oglethorpe County, Georgia, for possession of a stolen car out of McAllen, Texas, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Agents discovered communications between Andrew Young and Zavala, a Georgia DOC inmate, detailing trips between McAllen, Texas, and Georgia that Young took at Zavala’s behest to pick up methamphetamine and drop it at locations named by Zavala.

Zavala and co-defendant Bruce Hicks served as so-called “plugs” in the prison system, linking Mexican cartel drug distributors to customers and associates on the outside. Additional co-defendants linked to the conspiracy, including co-defendants Malcody Dinges, J.C. and T.O., were also Georgia DOC inmates at the time of the investigation. These inmates used social media and contraband cell phones to conduct and direct drug sales and move the drug proceeds to other members of the conspiracy.

While in custody, Zavala conducted methamphetamine transactions using contraband cell phones and social media platforms. Zavala would message his associates to direct and coordinate deliveries of methamphetamine to individuals and instruct others on how to make payments to him. In this case, Zavala is being held personally responsible for the distribution of between 15 and 30 kilograms of methamphetamine. The entire criminal network tied to him is responsible for distributing more than 100 kilograms of methamphetamine. Zavala is a confirmed Sureños 13 gang member and has been in Georgia DOC custody since 2012 for prior state convictions for armed robbery and false imprisonment.

“David Zavala was relentless in his efforts to direct a dangerous methamphetamine distribution network from behind bars, threatening both the safety of our communities and all those living and working in the prison with him,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Law enforcement at every level is committed to dismantling these types of criminal organizations and helping us hold them accountable.”

The following co-defendants in related cases have been sentenced:

Bruce Hicks, a/k/a “Bruno,” a/k/a “Bruce Incc,” of Athens, was sentenced to serve 260 months in prison on Jan. 8, 2020, after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Jan. 1, 2019;

Malcody Dinges aka “Cody” aka “Yes, Sir Cody,” 44, was sentenced to serve 240 months in prison (to run consecutive to any state-imposed sentence) to be followed by three years of supervised release on May 12, 2022, after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Dec. 16, 2021;

Joey Fowler 42, of Royston, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 235 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute;

Adonias Sales Temaj aka “Alacran,” 29, a citizen of Guatemala and resident of Norcross, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 210 months in prison on March 7 after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on July 14;

Frankie Baza, of Gwinnett County, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 200 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on June 3, 2021, after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine;

Johnathan Powell 43, of, Athens, was sentenced to serve 188 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute on July 17, 2017;

Mathew Shaver, 47, of Oglethorpe County, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 168 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute;

Ervin Sales Temaj aka “Milton Aguilar,” 35, a citizen of Guatemala and resident of Norcross, was sentenced to serve 121 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on July 14, 2022, after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on April 13, 2022;

Laura Yazmine Garcia Guerro, aka “Yazmin Garcia,” aka “Yaz,” 30, a citizen of Mexico and a resident of Duluth, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release on July 18 after she previously pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine on July 13, 2021;

Carrie Kasper, 32, of Athens, was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison on July 10 after she pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on July 15, 2021;

Cindy Stamey, 50, of Danielsville, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release on Sept. 18, after a federal jury found her guilty of one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession of methamphetamine on Sept. 21, 2022;

Garret Wolford, 37, of Athens, was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute;

Jeris Dove aka “Jeris Southers,” 29, of Athens, was sentenced to serve 110 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release on Jan. 20, 2022, after he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Oct. 18, 2021;

Peggy Bentley, 52, of Watkinsville, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 100 months after she pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute;

Steven Turbeville 42, of Winder, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 95 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute;

Russel Huckaba, 46, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 70 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute;

Mechelle Morris, 48, of Oglethorpe County, was sentenced to serve 55 months in prison after she pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute;

Christopher Wilson, 42, of Hull, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 55 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on Sept. 18 after he previously pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on April 13, 2022;

Justin Maddox, 45, of Athens, was sentenced to serve 30 months in prison on Jan. 11, 2023, after he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Aug. 3, 2021;

Ricky Keith Young aka “Ricky Bobby,” of Monroe, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 29 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to illegal use of communication devices;

Joey Arguelles aka “Chief,” 28, of Lavonia, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 24 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute;

Katlyn Lackey, 22, of Commerce, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 20 months in prison on Jan. 12, 2023, after she pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine May 12, 2022; and

James Andrew Young aka “Drew,” 29, of Arnoldsville, Georgia, was sentenced to serve nine months in prison after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute.

The following co-defendant is awaiting sentencing:

Brendan R. Gates, 38, of Commerce, was found guilty by a federal jury of one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on Sept. 21, 2022, and faces a maximum of life imprisonment. Sentencing will occur at a date determined by the Court.