Key Atlanta Drug Distributors Sentenced
Defendants Supplied Cocaine Statewide
ATLANTA - Glenn A. Cook has been sentenced to serve over ten years in federal prison on charges of conspiracy to possess and distribute cocaine, money laundering, and possession of a firearm during a drug offense.
“This organization’s cocaine trafficking activities clearly fed many illicit drug users. Because of the large volume of drugs involved, their sentences are appropriate and they will spend well-deserved time in prison,” said Harry S. Sommers, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “I commend our local law enforcement counterparts who played a crucial role in conducting this investigation.”
A four-month investigation of two Atlanta area cocaine suppliers led to the prosecution of numerous individuals in the distribution chain and stopped key players from continuing to sell cocaine throughout Georgia,” said United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates. “The combined effort of federal, state, and local law enforcement led to the removal of dangerous drugs and guns from our community.”
“IRS Criminal Investigation not only enforces the nation’s tax laws, but we also take particular interest in cases where the public is at risk due to unlawful activity occurring in our neighborhoods,” stated Veronica Hyman-Pillot, Special Agent in Charge. “We are proud to have contributed our financial skills in a united effort to thwart this organizations ability to launder money and commit crimes against our community.”
According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges and other information presented in court: Cook is the last of five defendants to be sentenced in this case, which arose from an investigation of regional cocaine distributors in Georgia that took place from October 2010 through January 2011. Cook and co-defendant Vincent Lamar Hall, known as “the Million Dollar man,” served as the two main sources of cocaine for another defendant, T’Michael Djuan Jones. Together, Cook and Hall distributed a total of 676 kilograms of cocaine to Jones and others. Jones in turn distributed cocaine to co-defendants Phillip La Shawn Massey and Anthony Gasque as well as others in the Macon and Brunswick areas.
During the investigation, law enforcement used Title III wiretaps to disrupt a two-kilogram cocaine transaction on October 11, 2010, that was worth $60,000 to Jones and Massey. Massey fled on foot from law enforcement, leaving behind the drugs and a gun.
On October 25, 2010, law enforcement also recovered four kilograms of cocaine that had been discarded by Gasque once he became aware the police were following him. Once the four kilograms of cocaine were tossed, Jones and Massey came up with a plan to rob Cook near his residence to replace the lost cocaine. Jones and Massey targeted Cook’s couriers, but the gun misfired and the couriers got away. As Cook was unaware of this plan, Jones continued to order large quantities of cocaine from Cook, some of which were intended for Massey.
Cook and Hall each lived in lavish homes with surveillance cameras on their properties to detect any individuals coming onto the property. Both men forfeited their personal residences, more than $50,000 in cash and bank funds, numerous high-end automobiles, including a Maserati and a fully-restored 1959 Thunderbird, two waverunners and an ATV, jewelry valued at more than $20,000, and assorted electronic equipment.
Cook, 41, of Atlanta, Ga., pleaded guilty on May 2, 2012, to conspiracy to possess at least 50 kilograms of cocaine, with the evidence demonstrating that he was responsible for approximately 646 kilograms. Cook was sentenced to ten years and one month in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release, and 100 hours of community service.
The other defendants previously sentenced in the case include:
Vincent Lamar Hall, 42, of Lithonia, Ga., on October 11, 2012, received 12 years, 7 months in prison for conspiracy to possess at least 5 kilograms of cocaine, money laundering, and tax evasion. Hall was responsible for at least 30 kilograms of cocaine and numerous guns were found during the search of his residence.
T’Michael Djuan Jones, 39, of Conyers, Ga., on August 6, 2012, received 12 years, 3 months in prison for possession of cocaine, conspiracy to possess at least 5 kilograms of cocaine, and possession of a firearm during a drug offense.
Phillip La Shawn Massey, 35, of Hampton, Ga., on December 10, 2012, received 10 years, 3 months in prison for conspiracy to possess at least 5 kilograms of cocaine and possession of a firearm during a drug offense.
Anthony Gasque, 34, of Fairburn, Ga., on August 3, 2012, received 5 years, 3 months in prison for conspiracy to possess at least 5 kilograms of cocaine.
Each of these defendants also received 5 years of supervised release to follow their term in prison and was ordered to perform 100 hours of community service.
This case was investigated by special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration and special agents of the Internal Revenue Service with assistance from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the East Point Ga. Police Department, the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, the Warren County Sheriff’s Office, and the Georgia State Patrol.
Assistant United States Attorney Cassandra Schansman, Susan Coppedge, and Michael J. Brown along with Thomas J. Jaworski of the Department of Justice, Tax Division, prosecuted the case.
The DEA encourages parents, along with their children, to educate themselves about the dangers of legal and illegal drugs by visiting DEA’s interactive websites at www.justthinktwice.com, www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.com and www.dea.gov.