Jarvis Matthews has been found guilty of leading a large-scale drug trafficking and money laundering operation from Calhoun State Prison in Georgia. The conviction follows a five-day trial, where Matthews was found responsible for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl, as well as multiple counts of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and conspiracy to commit money laundering. At the time these crimes were committed, Matthews was already serving life sentences without parole for murder.
“Matthews audaciously used contraband cell phones to run a drug trafficking operation from his state prison cell,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Now, as a result of a diligent federal investigation and close coordination with state and local partners, this convicted murderer faces a substantial sentence in federal prison on top of his state sentence.”
Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta, commented: “Jarvis Matthews used the confines of a prison cell to orchestrate a multi-million-dollar drug trafficking and money laundering operation, exploiting his family and the prison system to further his criminal enterprise. This case underscores the FBI’s commitment to dismantling transnational criminal organizations and holding accountable those who think they can operate beyond the reach of the law.”
Evidence presented during the trial indicated that while incarcerated at Georgia Department of Corrections facilities, Matthews used unauthorized mobile phones to direct drug distribution activities around Atlanta. He involved several family members—including his fiancée, girlfriends, nephew, and two adult sons—in distributing drugs and managing financial transactions related to the operation.
The investigation began in early 2022 when FBI agents discovered that Matthews was using social media accounts for arranging drug deals. In April 2022, agents conducted a controlled purchase involving two kilograms of methamphetamine through Matthews’s son Charvis Harris; Harris has since pleaded guilty in federal court for conspiracy charges related to drug distribution. Law enforcement obtained authorization for wiretaps on Matthews’s phone communications and placed surveillance cameras at one location linked to his operations. These efforts led authorities to intercept drugs distributed by Matthews’s sons and arrest customers shortly after their transactions.
Testimony showed that Matthews coordinated the movement of significant quantities of internationally sourced narcotics throughout metro Atlanta and laundered hundreds of thousands of dollars from illegal proceeds.
Matthews now faces at least 25 years in federal prison—this sentence will be served consecutively after his current state imprisonment. The court will determine the final sentencing based on guidelines designed for such offenses; however, no date has been set yet.
The case resulted from an investigation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with support from multiple agencies including state corrections officials as well as law enforcement offices across Georgia and Alabama.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Johnny Baer and John DeGenova are handling prosecution duties.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America—a national initiative by the Department of Justice targeting illegal immigration networks, cartels, transnational criminal groups, and violent crime by combining resources from programs such as Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods.
Additionally, this case falls under initiatives managed by the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF), created via Executive Order 14159: Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF involves collaboration between various federal agencies including ATF, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI among others—and aims specifically at dismantling domestic and international criminal organizations engaged in activities like child trafficking or violent crimes within U.S. borders.
Further information about this case is available through the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia: http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.