Savannah Standard

Six Augusta-area defendants have been sentenced to substantial federal prison terms after pleading guilty to participation in a methamphetamine trafficking operation.

James Andrew McPherson, 30, of Hephzibah, Ga., the lead defendant, was sentenced to 188 months in prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Methamphetamine, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall also ordered McPherson to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term.

“We applaud the work of our law enforcement partners in identifying and disrupting this meth-trafficking conspiracy,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “Our communities are safer with these illegal drug distributors off the streets.”

As described in court documents and proceedings, investigators from the Drug Enforcement Administration worked with local law enforcement agencies to identify McPherson as the leader of a drug trafficking conspiracy that transported large quantities of high-purity methamphetamine for distribution in Richmond, Columbia, and Burke counties.

McPherson transported the methamphetamine from an Atlanta supplier or used couriers – including his mother – to bring in the drugs, which he then broke down into smaller quantities for others to sell.

Other defendants sentenced in the case are:

- Brandon Wayne Johnson, 43, of Hephzibah, Ga., sentenced to 87 months in prison after pleading guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.

- Marcus Smith, a/k/a “Smoke,” 32, of Augusta, sentenced to 151 months in prison after pleading guilty to Distribution of Methamphetamine.

- Leslie Helinski, 54, of Augusta, the mother of James McPherson, sentenced to 130 months in prison after pleading guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.

- Tony Watson, 49, of Conover, N.C., sentenced to 120 months in prison after pleading guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.

- Charity Porter, 25, of Augusta, sentenced to 37 months in prison after pleading guilty to Distribution of Methamphetamine.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“Driven by greed, these drug traffickers’ activities posed a significant threat to the Augusta area and beyond,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “The success of this investigation is proof that those responsible for destroying our communities with methamphetamine will be held accountable.”

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the Georgia State Patrol; Columbia County Sheriff’s Office; Burke County Sheriff’s Office; and McDuffie County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted for the United States by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Z. Spitulnik.