Julian Derwayne Coker, leader of a drug trafficking organization in Middle Georgia, has been sentenced to 28 years in federal prison. Coker, also known by his aliases "Red" and "Bread Red," pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and received his sentence from U.S. District Judge Marc T. Treadwell. His prison term will be followed by a decade of supervised release, and he must pay a $10,000 fine.
“Armed drug trafficking organizations endanger the safety of our communities,” commented Acting U.S. Attorney C. Shanelle Booker. This case, Booker noted, highlights the effective cooperation among law enforcement agencies in disrupting criminal enterprises.
Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta, lauded the law enforcement efforts, stating, “The streets are safer, and Georgians can sleep a little easier knowing that the leader of this drug trafficking organization is locked up and his days of peddling drugs in our community are over.” He emphasized the FBI’s commitment to combating drug trafficking through collaboration with law enforcement partners.
GBI Director Chris Hosey added, “Drug trafficking organizations disrupt society and poison our communities with violence and illegal drugs. Their actions threaten the safety of the citizens of Georgia, and the GBI and our partners will not allow these organizations to go unchecked.”
Coker's criminal operation involved several codefendants, all of whom have been sentenced for various methamphetamine-related charges. Sentences for these individuals range from 12 months to over 12 years in prison.
The FBI's investigation into the drug trafficking organization began in 2022. Numerous controlled methamphetamine purchases were made from Coker and others. Searches executed on November 15, 2022, uncovered methamphetamine and a pistol at Coker's residence.
This prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America, an initiative aimed at combating drug trafficking and violent crime, organized by the Department of Justice. The case was investigated by the FBI and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Joy Odom leading the prosecution.