Adrian Robinson, Julio Martinez-Guzman, Jesse Brooks, James Carden, Reginal Dowdy, and Casanova Pritchett have been sentenced for their roles as members of a drug trafficking organization that distributed illegal narcotics in the Rome, Georgia, area, including heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, and oxycodone.
“Drug trafficking is a societal scourge that poses serious risks to the public health and safety of our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “The dedication of our federal, state, and local enforcement partners resulted in the disruption of this drug trafficking organization and led to the successful prosecution of these defendants.”
“The success of this investigation and the subsequent arrests of these drug dealers demonstrates DEA’s commitment to fighting drug trafficking organizations responsible for driving addiction and destroying communities,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division.
According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: In 2021, Drug Enforcement Administration special agents, and Atlanta-Carolinas High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task force officers, discovered that Julio Martinez-Guzman was operating a drug distribution ring from two residential locations in Rome, Georgia. Martinez-Guzman had previously been convicted of drug trafficking in the Northern District of Georgia. During their 2021 investigation, agents identified Martinez-Guzman’s customers as well as his narcotics suppliers, who obtained and distributed quantities of illegal drugs in the North Georgia area, including heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, and oxycodone.
Each of the following defendants subsequently pleaded guilty to drug trafficking offences and received the following sentences:
- Adrian Robinson, 42, of Cedartown, Georgia, was sentenced to six years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Robinson was convicted of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on May 29, 2024, after he pleaded guilty.
- Julio Martinez-Guzman, 54, of Rome, Georgia, was sentenced to 20 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Martinez-Guzman was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, oxycodone, and heroin on February 26, 2024, after he pleaded guilty.
- Jesse Willard Brooks, 41, of Rome, Georgia, was sentenced to eight years, four months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Brooks was convicted of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on February 15, 2024, after he pleaded guilty.
- James Carden, 42, of Villa Rica, Georgia was sentenced to five years, three months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Carden was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin and methamphetamine on February 14, 2024, after he pleaded guilty.
- Reginal Eric Dowdy, 46, of Cedar Bluff, Alabama, was sentenced to three years, ten months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Dowdy was convicted of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on February 15, 2024, after he pleaded guilty.
- Casanova DePaul Pritchett, 53, of Calhoun, Georgia was sentenced to two years, six months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Pritchett was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and oxycodone on February 26, 2024, after he pleaded guilty.
Abel Santoyo-Santana, age 26, of Mexico remains a fugitive. If you have information pertaining to his whereabouts, please contact your local law enforcement agency.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, North Georgia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives with valuable assistance provided by the Rome-Floyd Metro Task Force, Floyd County Police Department, Polk County Police Department, Rome Police Department, Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office, and Cedartown Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy M. Palumbo prosecuted the case.
