Deaja Simone Clemons has been sentenced to 63 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute fentanyl. Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr. emphasized the impact of Clemons' actions, stating, "Clemons sold thousands of fentanyl pills at a time that the illegal distribution and use of this drug was continuing to ravage communities within and outside our district." He also acknowledged the cooperation among law enforcement agencies that led to Clemons' arrest.
Jae W. Chung, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division, commented on the broader issue, saying, "Illicit drugs like fentanyl have destroyed countless lives. Keeping our communities safe is our highest priority."
The investigation began in February 2024 when the DEA's Rome Field Office received information about Clemons' activities in the area. During that month, she sold 121 counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl across Rome and Cedartown, Georgia. In April 2024, DEA agents and Polk County police officers tracked Clemons from Rome to Polk County and stopped her vehicle on her return trip. A search revealed 124 counterfeit pills and $3,922 in cash.
Following her arrest, it was uncovered that Clemons had been distributing approximately 300 fentanyl pills weekly over three months. United States District Judge William M. Ray II handed down her sentence after she pleaded guilty on December 13, 2024.
The case was investigated by several agencies including the Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Thomas M. Forsyth III and Calvin A. Leipold III as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strategic Initiative aimed at tackling the fentanyl crisis in northwest Georgia.
The public is encouraged to report any drug trafficking activities through various hotlines or online platforms provided by law enforcement agencies.