Garry Allen Harris, also known as “G Money” and “Gary Cody,” has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for his role in leading a methamphetamine trafficking operation connected to a Mexican drug cartel. Harris, 33, formerly of Albany, Georgia, received the sentence on October 7 after pleading guilty earlier this year to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The sentence will run consecutively to two other state sentences he is currently serving in Worth County, Georgia.
According to court records and testimony presented at sentencing, Harris orchestrated the distribution of methamphetamine into Southwest Georgia from behind bars. He acted as an intermediary between narcotics suppliers in Atlanta—linked to a Mexican cartel—and distributors operating under his direction. Investigators uncovered communications between Harris and his co-defendants through Facebook accounts and cellphones, revealing coordination of drug transactions while Harris was incarcerated.
“Garry Harris showed no remorse for his crimes, continuing to push drugs, possess weapons and even threaten a co-conspirator twice while behind bars,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “Thanks to the diligent and coordinated efforts of our local, state and federal law enforcement partners, we have successfully dismantled a narcotics pipeline into Southwest Georgia linked to a Mexican cartel and directed by an incarcerated gang member. Under Operation Take Back America, our office will leverage every available resource to seek justice and protect citizens.”
Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division added: “This 30-year sentence sends a powerful message to those who believe they can profit from poisoning our communities with methamphetamine. Our law enforcement partners and agents worked relentlessly to dismantle this operation, and this outcome reflects the serious consequences that await anyone who traffics in this deadly drug.”
Several co-defendants were also convicted:
- Wallace Eric Strickland was sentenced last November to nearly 24 years.
- Niki Lynn Crabtree-Booth received over 12 years for conspiracy charges.
- Aryn Brittany Jones was sentenced in May 2024.
- Ryan Daniel Farr received almost six years for obstruction of justice.
Senior U.S. District Judge W. Louis Sands presided over the case.
Evidence presented at trial showed that Harris used contraband cell phones while incarcerated at Irwin County Jail as recently as May 2024; he possessed shanks on two occasions during that period; and continued distributing narcotics from prison using social media accounts searched under warrant by DEA agents.
The court found that Harris made credible threats against a co-conspirator aimed at preventing cooperation with authorities or testifying against him. Due to these actions—which included further criminal activity after being charged—Harris did not receive any reduction in sentencing for acceptance of responsibility.
The investigation was part of Operation Take Back America—a Department of Justice initiative designed to combat cartels and violent crime nationwide by coordinating resources across multiple agencies including Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). For additional details about related convictions stemming from armed meth trafficking investigations in Southwest Georgia visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdga/pr/defendants-sentenced-prison-separate-armed-meth-trafficking-investigations-southwest.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) alongside Lee County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from Americus Police Department and Fitzgerald Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Redavid prosecuted the case.
This press release is issued following resumption of government operations after a recent shutdown period.
