Austell man and others sentenced in Atlanta drug trafficking case

Following a multi-agency investigation into an Atlanta drug ring, federal prosecutors announced that an Austell man, Christopher Allen, will spend two years behind bars after being convicted on a drug trafficking conspiracy that netted others. 

Allen, 48, described by prosecutors as a “mid-level trafficker”, pleaded guilty in federal court and was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael Brown to two years in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release. Allen was joined by three other metro Atlanta residents who pleaded guilty and received prison sentences ranging from two to 15 years in prison — 42-year-old Christopher Jones of Norcross, 46-year-old Tierre Freeman of Stockbridge, and 50-year-old Lamon Brown of Jonesboro.

Allen was one of eight people who have been sentenced as part of this drug ring in Atlanta. 

U.S. Attorney Ryan Buchanan said in a statement, “This group of drug traffickers targeted vulnerable communities in our district for distributing illegal narcotics. Through the diligent efforts of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, we dismantled the organization’s distribution chain and prosecuted the suppliers. This case demonstrates our commitment to removing dangerous drugs from our streets as well as the dealers who peddle them.”

Prosecutors said the investigation began in 2019 and focused on a group that operated out of southwest Atlanta. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshals Service and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from several local agencies. 

DEA agents started looking into 46-year-old Kevin Clark, who they described as a “prolific drug trafficker.” Clark was sentenced to seven years and three months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to drug trafficking conspiracy. 

Clark’s drug suppliers, three Mexican nationals, 50-year-old Esteban Niere, 37-year-old Alejandro Elias-Miranda and 43-year-old Eduardo Gutierrez — pleaded guilty and received prison sentences ranging from six to 10 years. Law enforcement officials also seized vehicles, guns, cash, and jewelry which were used in the commission, or purchased with drug proceeds.

Robert J. Murphy, special agent in charge of the DEA Atlanta Division said, “The DEA is committed to deploying resources to combat and interrupt the dangerous drug trafficking organizations that have set up business in the Atlanta area. We will continue to work aggressively to hold accountable those who are trafficking dangerous drugs.”