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United States of America v. Juan Carlos Popoca
Date: 03-20-2026
Case Number:
Judge: W. Louis Sands
Court: United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia (Rome County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: United States District Attorney's Office in Albany
Defendant's Attorney:
Click Here For The Best Albany Criminal Defense Lawyer Directory
Description:
Albany, Georgia, criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine
Juan Carlos Poppa, 38, of Tifton, was accused of operating a drug ring out of prison.
Haley Maria Sumner, 34, was sentenced to serve 78 months in prison on Jan. 29, 2026, after she pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of methamphetamine;
Jerri Jo Austin, 54, was sentenced to serve 36 months in prison on July 31, 2025, after she pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of methamphetamine; and Susan Nichole Lopez, 31, was sentenced to serve 30 months in prison on Dec. 14, 2025, after she pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of methamphetamine.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents and statements referenced in court, Georgia Bureau of Investigation Southwestern Regional Drug Enforcement Office agents received information from a confidential source in 2021 that Austin was distributing methamphetamine in Tift County, Georgia. During the investigation, agents learned that Popoca, Sumner and Lopez were working with Austin to distribute methamphetamine, and that Popoca was an inmate at a Georgia prison.
Working undercover, a GBI agent contacted Popoca in April 2022 to purchase methamphetamine. Popoca directed the agent to Austin, who he referred to as his “aunt.” As a result, the agent purchased methamphetamine from Austin on April 11, 2022. During this interaction, Austin asked the undercover agent if he could fly a drone to drop drugs into the prison where Popoca was incarcerated. Several additional controlled purchases were made at Popoca's direction, sometimes involving the other co-conspirators, at various locations in Tift County. Popoca shifted his communications to Telegram, an encrypted instant messaging app. Agents organized the final controlled purchase of heroin on June 24, 2022, taking Lopez into custody at a gas station in Tift County. Agents estimate the organization is responsible for distributing 180 kilograms of methamphetamine, 60 kilograms of cocaine and 1,300 pounds of marijuana in Tift County.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The GBI Southwestern Regional Drug Enforcement Office investigated the case with valuable assistance from the Tift County Sheriff’s Office.
Juan Carlos Poppa, 38, of Tifton, was accused of operating a drug ring out of prison.
Haley Maria Sumner, 34, was sentenced to serve 78 months in prison on Jan. 29, 2026, after she pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of methamphetamine;
Jerri Jo Austin, 54, was sentenced to serve 36 months in prison on July 31, 2025, after she pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of methamphetamine; and Susan Nichole Lopez, 31, was sentenced to serve 30 months in prison on Dec. 14, 2025, after she pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of methamphetamine.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents and statements referenced in court, Georgia Bureau of Investigation Southwestern Regional Drug Enforcement Office agents received information from a confidential source in 2021 that Austin was distributing methamphetamine in Tift County, Georgia. During the investigation, agents learned that Popoca, Sumner and Lopez were working with Austin to distribute methamphetamine, and that Popoca was an inmate at a Georgia prison.
Working undercover, a GBI agent contacted Popoca in April 2022 to purchase methamphetamine. Popoca directed the agent to Austin, who he referred to as his “aunt.” As a result, the agent purchased methamphetamine from Austin on April 11, 2022. During this interaction, Austin asked the undercover agent if he could fly a drone to drop drugs into the prison where Popoca was incarcerated. Several additional controlled purchases were made at Popoca's direction, sometimes involving the other co-conspirators, at various locations in Tift County. Popoca shifted his communications to Telegram, an encrypted instant messaging app. Agents organized the final controlled purchase of heroin on June 24, 2022, taking Lopez into custody at a gas station in Tift County. Agents estimate the organization is responsible for distributing 180 kilograms of methamphetamine, 60 kilograms of cocaine and 1,300 pounds of marijuana in Tift County.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The GBI Southwestern Regional Drug Enforcement Office investigated the case with valuable assistance from the Tift County Sheriff’s Office.
Outcome:
The Defendant was found guilty and was sentenced to 165 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release.
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments:
About This Case
What was the outcome of United States of America v. Juan Carlos Popoca?
The outcome was: The Defendant was found guilty and was sentenced to 165 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release.
Which court heard United States of America v. Juan Carlos Popoca?
This case was heard in United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia (Rome County), GA. The presiding judge was W. Louis Sands.
Who were the attorneys in United States of America v. Juan Carlos Popoca?
Plaintiff's attorney: United States District Attorney's Office in Albany. Defendant's attorney: Click Here For The Best Albany Criminal Defense Lawyer Directory.
When was United States of America v. Juan Carlos Popoca decided?
This case was decided on March 20, 2026.