Jackson, TN - George Ward, 49, was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison for possession of prescription pills with intent to distribute. Lawrence J. Laurenzi, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, George Ward, 49, of Jackson, Tennessee, unlawfully possessed with intent to distribute large quantities of Morphine, Amphetamine, Zolpidem(Ambien), Hydrocodone, Methadone, Alprazolam (Xanax), and Hydromorphone.
In February 2013, the Jackson Police Department (JPD) Gang Enforcement Team and the Jackson-Madison County Narcotics Unit executed a search warrant at a house as part of an ongoing narcotics investigation involving the defendant. Ward was present at the location during the search warrant’s execution. Law enforcement agents determined that he was staying in the house’s guest bedroom. While searching the room, law enforcement discovered approximately 6,500 pills contained in several different bags. The seized pills included: 2,317 Morphine pills; 2,247 Amphetamine pills; 684 Zolpidem pills; 482 Hydrocodone pills; 456 Methadone pills; 260 Alprazolam pills; and 89 Hydromorphone pills.
The pills were packaged in numerous Ziploc bags, indicative of pills that are being distributed. There were also numerous pills in wholesale pharmacy bottles that individuals are prohibited from possessing, indicative of pills for resale. Drug ledgers were also seized in Ward’s room, which referenced certain strengths of the narcotics, pills with certain markings, as well as the number of pills and prices.
At the time of the search, Ward was on parole for a state conviction of possession of cocaine with intent to sell.
A federal jury convicted Ward on Aug. 17, 2016, of seven counts of unlawful possession with intent to distribute prescription pills - individual counts for Morphine, Amphetamine, Zolpidem, Hydrocodone, Methadone, Alprazolam, and Hydromorphone.
On June 8, 2017, the Honorable J. Daniel Breen sentenced Ward to more than 11 years in federal prison. On counts 1, 2, 4, 5, and 7, Ward was sentenced to 136 months to run concurrent with 120 months on counts 3 and 6. Ward received a total of 6 years supervised release to begin after his incarceration.
The case was investigated by the Jackson-Madison County Metro Narcotics Unit; Jackson Police Department Gang Enforcement Team; and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Beth C. Boswell prosecuted this case on the government’s behalf.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
