GAINESVILLE, GA— A member along with an associate of the Black Piston Motorcycle Club were the last two of several defendants sentenced to prison as a result of a long-term investigation into drug and gun crimes, officials announced last week.
Walt Verrill, who was a member of the Black Pistons Motorcycle Club, and Tony Parrott, who was an affiliate of the same motorcycle club, were sentenced to more than three years and more than two years, respectively, officials said.
Both have been sentenced for possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
“These sentencings close a comprehensive investigation into drug trafficking and illegal gun and explosives offenses by members of motorcycle gangs operating in North Georgia,” said Acting U.S. Attorney John Horn.
The investigation began in mid-2010 in northern Georgia. Authorities began investigating allegations that members of the Outlaw Motorcycle Club, the Black Pistons Motorcycle Club, and other motorcycle clubs were engaged in criminal activity, including drug distribution and illegal firearms and explosives offenses.
According to authorities, this is the evidence in this case:
- An undercover agent posed as a drug dealer from Florida who was looking to expand his drug dealing into North Georgia. He was introduced to members of the motorcycle clubs by a club member who was working as an informant for the FBI.
- The undercover agent conducted actual and ruse drug deals in which he either bought methamphetamine from motorcycle club members or recruited club members to assist him in moving what they were led to believe were significant quantities of methamphetamine or cocaine from North Georgia to Tennessee.
- The undercover agent also obtained firearms from convicted felons and engaged two defendants in discussions about making an unregistered explosive device for him.
- The investigation also took a side route into the Hispanic SUR-13 gang, which was operating in Hall County, Ga.
- A second informant introduced SUR-13 gang members and affiliates to the undercover agent, and they then moved what they were led to believe were significant quantities of cocaine through Hall County, Ga., to Tennessee.
- The undercover agent also conducted illegal firearms transactions with SUR-13 gang members.
- In mid-July 2012, the FBI learned that members of the Outlaw Motorcycle Club suspected that one of the FBI’s informants was working for the FBI.
- The undercover investigation was terminated at that time.
On August 16, 2012, 22 defendants were arrested on drug, firearms, and obstruction of justice charges. Six other defendants were arrested later.
Since then, 20 defendants have pleaded guilty to various charges, two defendants were convicted after jury trials, and five defendants were acquitted at trial.
One defendant, David Rizo-Troncoso, absconded after he was released on bond. Rizo-Troncoso remains a fugitive.
Here are the sentences handed down:
- Verrill, 50, of Sautee Nacoochee, Ga., has been sentenced to three years, four months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release. Verrill was convicted on these charges on July 23, 2013, after he pleaded guilty.
- Parrott, 38, of Ellijay, Ga., has been sentenced to two years, four months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release. Parrott was convicted on these charges on October 30, 2013, after he plead guilty.
- Winfred Turner, 63, from Watkinsville, Ga., was convicted at trial of conspiring to aid and abet and aiding and abetting the possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Turner was sentenced to five years in prison.
- Bobby McGlothlin, 50, of Murrayville, Ga., was convicted at trial of selling a firearm to a convicted felon with knowledge that the buyer had a felony conviction. McGlothlin was sentenced to four months in prison.
- Howard Haney, 44, Alpharetta, Ga., plead guilty to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Haney was sentenced to ten years in prison.
- Larry Samples, 45, of Hall County, Ga., plead guilty to conspiring to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. Samples was sentenced to ten years in prison.
- Dawen Lloyd, 50, of Winterville, Ga., plead guilty possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. Lloyd was sentenced to five years in prison.
- James Brown, 43, of Danielsville, Ga., plead guilty to using a communication facility in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Brown was sentenced to two years in prison.
- Denny Riley, 38, of Avonmore, Penn., plead guilty to using a communication facility in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Riley was sentenced to one year and six months in prison.
- George Jordan, 48, of Hall County, Ga., plead guilty to using a communication facility in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Brown was sentenced to three years and six months in prison.
- Davey Honeycutt, 47, Gainesville, Ga., plead guilty to conspiring to aid and abet the possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute. Honeycutt was sentenced to five years in prison.
- Phillip Honeycutt, 48, of Gainesville, Ga., plead guilty to using a communication facility in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Honeycutt was sentenced to one year and six months in prison.
- Tom Coley, 60, Danielsville, Ga., plead guilty to conspiring to aid and abet the possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute. Coley was sentenced to three years and one month in prison.
- Brandon Musser, 29, Gainesville, Ga., plead guilty to conspiring to aid and abet the possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute. Musser was sentenced to two years and four months in prison.
- Josue Guerrero, 22, of Gainesville, Ga., plead guilty to conspiring to aid and abet the possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute. Guerrero was sentenced to five years in prison.
- Jesse Castillo, 23, from Gainesville, Ga., plead guilty to using a communication facility in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Castillo was sentenced to one year and six months in prison.
- Reynol Castrejon, 33, of Gainesville, Ga., plead guilty to conspiring to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Castrejon was sentenced to five years and six months in prison.
- Dan Redding, 28, of Justin, Texas, plead guilty to using a communication facility in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Redding was sentenced to one year and six months in prison.
- Franscisco Montano, 28, of Gainesville, Ga., plead guilty to conspiring to sell a firearm to a convicted felon. Montano was sentenced to five years in prison.
- Juan Pablo Hurtado, 26, of Gainesville, Ga., plead guilty to possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Hurtado was sentenced to one year and six months in prison.
- Raymond Sellers plead guilty to conspiring to make and transfer a destructive device. Sellers was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison.
- George Norwood plead guilty to conspiring to make and transfer a destructive device. Norwood was sentenced to two years in prison.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI with assistance from the North Georgia Major Offenders Task Force and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.