M. N. Tirado News


Georgia man sentenced for running meth labs

Genaro Davalos-Pulido has been sentenced for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and for illegally possessing a firearm in connection with drug trafficking. U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan stated, "Methamphetamine manufacturers and traffickers like Davalos-Pulido pose a tremendous threat to the safety of our communities." He credited the efforts of federal, state, and local law enforcement partners for bringing Davalos-Pulido to justice.


Authorities warn against charity scams following Hurricane Helene

U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan has issued a warning to the public regarding potential charity scams following Hurricane Helene. He emphasized the need for vigilance when contributing to hurricane relief efforts, noting that scammers often exploit such disasters to deceive well-meaning donors.


Decatur man sentenced for selling counterfeit fentanyl pills

Gregory Buckner has been sentenced to federal prison for possessing and intending to distribute fentanyl and heroin. He attempted to sell thousands of pills containing fentanyl disguised as oxycodone tablets.


Mercer Law staff member supports teen girls through mentorship initiative

Najiva Timothee identified a need for mentorship among teen girls in Macon-Bibb County and decided to address it by creating the Girls Dig Deeper Initiative. Timothee, who works as an administrative support associate at Mercer Law School, mentors dozens of teen girls each year through this program.


Man sentenced for manufacturing ghost guns and drug possession

Richard Eric Greeson has been sentenced to federal prison for manufacturing and selling unserialized and untraceable rifles, known as "ghost guns," and possessing methamphetamine.


Olive Garden partners with Uber for delivery program

Darden Restaurants, Inc., the parent company of Olive Garden, has announced a multi-year exclusive delivery partnership with Uber Technologies, Inc. set to begin with Olive Garden in late 2024.


Harpaz publishes article in Tax Notes International

Assistant Professor Assaf Harpaz published “The U.N. Framework Tax Convention: Can It Bridge the North-South Divide?” in Tax Notes International on September 16, 2024.


Rodrigues featured in Fortune on SPACs and meme stocks

Associate Dean, University Professor, and Kilpatrick Chair of Corporate Finance and Securities Law Usha Rodrigues was featured in Fortune regarding special purpose acquisition companies and meme stocks. The article titled "Trump Media lockup deadline leaves Trump with a choice: trigger a fire sale or hold a meme stock" was written by Paolo Confino and published on September 18, 2024. The article was republished by other media outlets.


Man sentenced for multimillion-dollar scheme defrauding factoring companies

ATLANTA - Micky Lee Wagner, also known by several aliases including “Clifton Leigh Wagner Martin” and “Dr. Leigh,” has been sentenced to federal prison for orchestrating a scheme to defraud factoring companies of over $5 million using stolen identities.


LeClercq presents research on USMCA at WTO Public Forum

Assistant Professor Desirée LeClercq presented her research on the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement at the 2024 World Trade Organization Public Forum in Geneva, Switzerland.


U.S. Attorney's Office partners with local entities to tackle firearm-related domestic violence

The United States Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia have announced a partnership with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Field Division and DeKalb County, Georgia. The collaboration aims to develop a plan to reduce intimate partner firearm violence and prioritize prosecutions of domestic violence offenders.


Final defendant convicted on all charges related to Operation Ghost Busted

BRUNSWICK, GA: The final defendant in a massive drug trafficking organization has been convicted on all charges after a two-day jury trial.


Assistant professor presents draft article at CrimFest conference

Assistant Professor John B. Meixner Jr. presented his draft article "Biased Mitigation" at the 2024 CrimFest conference.


Sarah Palin granted new defamation trial against New York Times

Sonja R. West, Brumby Distinguished Professor in First Amendment Law, was featured in The Washington Post concerning a new trial for Sarah Palin. The article, titled "Sarah Palin wins bid for new defamation trial against New York Times," was written by Laura Wagner and published on August 28, 2024.


Brunswick man receives consecutive life sentences for rape and child molestation

Troy Rogers III of Brunswick, GA, was found guilty by a Glynn County jury on August 23, 2024, of one count of rape, two counts of aggravated child molestation, and one count of child molestation. The jury reached its verdict after deliberating for only one hour. Superior Court Judge Roger Lane subsequently sentenced Rogers to three consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole, plus an additional 19 years in prison.


Law school welcomes four new professors

The School of Law is pleased to welcome four new professors this fall. Prof. Pamela Foohey will teach Bankruptcy, Secured Transactions, and a Bankruptcy Practice Seminar; Asst. Prof. Assaf Harpaz will teach Federal Income Tax and Taxation of Business Enterprises; Asst. Prof. Desirée LeClercq will teach International Trade and Workers' Rights, International Labor Law, International Law, and U.S. Labor Law; and Asst. Prof. Meighan Parker will teach The Law of American Health Care and Torts.


Georgia Supreme Court cites Carlson's book for 76th time in evidentiary case

Callaway Chair of Law Emeritus Ronald L. Carlson's book "Carlson on Evidence" (with M. Carlson) was recently cited by the Georgia Supreme Court in Garrison v. State regarding expert witness standards. This citation brings the total to 76 times that this text has been used by Georgia appellate courts to resolve evidentiary issues.


Georgia trucker sentenced for fraudulent PPP loan scheme

Roderick Billingslea has been sentenced to federal prison for obtaining a fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan and operating illegal trucking businesses.


Auto product liability cases secure $447 Million in settlements and verdicts

Beasley Allen, a law firm specializing in auto accident cases, has recently secured $447 million in settlements and verdicts over the past two years. These cases initially had less than $3 million total available in auto insurance.


Law school dean joins Morris Manning & Martin

Dean Peter B. "Bo" Rutledge was featured on Law360 regarding his new position at Morris Manning & Martin. The article titled "Longtime Ga. Law School Dean Heads to Morris Manning" was written by Emily Johnson and published on August 6, 2024.