The final defendant in a drug trafficking operation in the Augusta area has been found guilty. Donnie Skillman, 47, of Augusta, was convicted on charges related to methamphetamine trafficking and firearms possession. U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, Jill E. Steinberg, stated that Skillman could face up to life in federal prison.
“All 10 defendants in this drug-trafficking network are now being held accountable for distributing dangerous, addictive drugs in our community,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “We applaud the outstanding work of our law enforcement partners in identifying and eliminating this threat to the safety of our neighborhoods.”
Skillman's conviction followed a two-day trial where he was found guilty of multiple charges including Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number.
This case involved ten defendants charged under USA v. Walters et al., linked to a significant methamphetamine trafficking operation throughout Augusta. The other nine individuals have already been sentenced after pleading guilty to conspiracy charges.
Edward Jake Walters, also known as "State Farm" or "Jake from State Farm," received an 87-month sentence alongside others like Phillip Smith who was sentenced to 156 months and Gary Holcomb who received 188 months.
Some defendants also faced charges related to firearms possession by convicted felons. Skillman's sentencing will be scheduled following a presentence investigation by U.S. Probation Services.
Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division, remarked on the importance of addressing the use of guns and drugs by traffickers: “This verdict demonstrates DEA’s emphatic commitment to dismantling these dangerous drug trafficking organizations.”
Beau Kolodka from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives highlighted their focus on public safety: “Our priority is to ensure that individuals who endanger public safety through drug trafficking and illegal gun possession are brought to justice.”
Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Hosey praised law enforcement efforts: “The conviction in this extensive methamphetamine trafficking operation underscores our commitment to dismantling dangerous criminal organizations that threaten the safety of our communities.”
The Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) led this investigation using a multi-agency approach focused on disrupting high-level criminal organizations.
The investigation took place under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which aims at reducing violent crime through collaboration among various levels of law enforcement.
Agencies involved included the DEA; ATF; Georgia Bureau of Investigation; Aiken County Sheriff’s Office; Columbia County Sheriff’s Office; Richmond County Sheriff’s Office; McDuffie County Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution team comprised Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bradley R. Thompson and Kelsey L. Scanlon from the Southern District of Georgia.