SAVANNAH, GA—A man with ties to a Mexican cartel was sentenced last week to 18 years in prison for his role in a methamphetamine conspiracy in Georgia and elsewhere, officials said.
Eric Arrana-Garcia, 39, a citizen of Mexico who previously lived in Blackshear, Georgia, is the last defendant to be sentenced as part of “Operation Ice Breaker,” a joint federal and state investigation which targeted a drug trafficking ring with ties to a Mexican drug cartel.
According to evidence presented in court hearings and in court documents, Arrana-Garcia received large quantities of crystalized methamphetamine, also known by its street name as “Ice,” from Mexican sources in California, which he transported for distribution throughout southeast Georgia, officials said.
In addition, Arrana-Garcia had an arsenal of firearms, many of which he used during various drug transactions, sold, or traded for Ice.
Officials said Arrana-Garcia was identified by coconspirators as a Mexican drug cartel member who could “make undesirables disappear.”
As part of Operation Ice Breaker, large quantities of Ice and multiple firearms were seized
In addition, 6 other defendants were convicted and received lengthy sentences:
- Jorge Ramos, 42, a citizen of Mexico previously living in Savannah, was sentenced to 163 months in prison
- Mary Riggins, 48, from Blackshear, Georgia, was sentenced to 156 months in prison
- Vernon Dowlings, 30, from Blackshear, Georgia, was sentenced to 128 months in prison
- Jacob Lattanzie, 28, from Blackshear, Georgia, was sentenced to 87 months in prison
- James Yarbrough, 36, from Blackshear, Georgia, was sentenced to 74 months in prison
- Joshua King, 29, from Blackshear, Georgia, was sentenced to 135 months in prison