Brunswick, GA- Daniel Roger Alo, 46, pleaded guilty today in federal court before Chief U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood for his role in running a drug trafficking organization out of the Calhoun State Prison in Morgan, Georgia. Last September, a federal grand jury sitting in Savannah indicted Alo and 15 other defendants regarding a drug trafficking organization operating in Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, and elsewhere.
According to evidence presented during his guilty plea hearing, while serving a sentence at the Calhoun State Prison on a kidnapping conviction, Alo formed a drug trafficking organization made up of gang members inside and outside of prison, including individuals from the Ghost Face Gangsters, the Bloods, the Gangster Disciples, and from individuals with ties to Mexican Cartels. Alo used drones to smuggle cellphones and other contraband inside the Calhoun State Prison. From prison, Alo used the cellphones to coordinate large drug deals. On the outside, members of the conspiracy distributed pounds of crystal meth throughout the Southeast. In 2015, law enforcement agents seized 10.9 pounds of meth, over 10 firearms, and over $600,000 from 5 of Alo’s coconspirators, following a sting operation in Brunswick, Georgia. Coconspirator and former Georgia Lottery winner Ronnie Music purchased meth with some of his $3 million in lottery winnings. Like Alo, Music now awaits sentencing. During their investigation, agents seized more than 15 firearms, several of which were stolen or had obliterated serial numbers; thousands of rounds of ammunition; over 15 pounds of crystal meth; over $600,000; multiple vehicles; and, two drones.
U.S. Attorney Edward Tarver said, “This defendant is an example of the enormous challenges that our law enforcement partners face in their fight against illegal drugs in our communities. Alo used readily available technology (drones and cell phones) to continue his substantial criminal behavior even while confined in a secure State prison. It is necessary and appropriate that his next stop be a federal prison."
Alo faces 5 to 40 years in a federal prison as a result of his federal conviction. Alo will be sentenced after the U.S. Probation Office completes a presentence investigation.
The case was investigated by the ATF, the DEA, the FBI, the United States Marshal Service, the GBI, the Glynn-Brunswick Narcotics Enforcement Team, the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, the Ware County Sheriff’s Office, the Glynn County Police Department, the Glynn County Sheriff’s Office, the Haralson-Paulding Drug Task Force and the Virginia State Police. Assistant United States Attorneys E. Greg Gilluly, Jr. and Tania D. Groover prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States. For questions, please contact First Assistant United States Attorney James D. Durham at (912) 201-2547.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
