Description: Athens, Georgia criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with drug trafficking.

Wayne L. McKinley, 36, of Athens, was sentenced as a career offender to serve 220 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of heroin and one count of distribution of cocaine before U.S. District Judge C. Ashley Royal on Sept. 18. McKinley is not eligible for parole.

“Federal prosecutors will not turn a blind eye to repeat criminal activity by violent offenders in Athens or elsewhere in the Middle District of Georgia,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Our office will continue to collaborate with local law enforcement to hold repeat criminals accountable for their continued crimes.”

“Repeat offenders pose serious threats to public safety in our communities,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “McKinley’s history of continued criminal activity demonstrates his lack of concern for the welfare of others and his disregard for the law.”

According to court documents, FBI confidential informants contacted McKinley to purchase heroin and cocaine from him in May 2016. The informants agreed to meet McKinley at an apartment complex on Fourth Street in Athens. Under surveillance, McKinley sold the illegal drugs to the informants, and was taken into custody.

McKinley has prior criminal convictions in the Athens-Clarke County community for aggravated assault, distribution of controlled substances, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, robbery by sudden snatching, terroristic threats and criminal trespassing.

This case was investigated by the FBI Middle Georgia Safe Streets Gang Task Force, the Northeast Georgia Regional Drug Task Force and the Athens-Clarke County Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Morrison prosecuted the case for the Government.

21:841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C) Distribution of Heroin
(1)

Outcome: Defendant was sentenced to 220 months imprisonment as to count one and 22 months imprisonment as to count two to be served concurrently for a total term of 220 months, sentence t be served concurrently to any term of imprisonment imposed in Athens-Clarke Co. Superior court case no SU-09-0158, Myrtle Beach, SC case no 20-008539, Newton Co., GA case no 2018-49444, and Dekalb Co, GA case no 2022-S-6039; $100 MAF for each count for a total MAF of $200; 3 years supervised release for each count to be served concurrently for a total term of 3 years.

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