Decatur Man Sentenced to Nearly Seven Years for Trafficking Fentanyl and Heroin Disguised as Oxycodone
Gregory Buckner, 48, of Decatur, Georgia, has been sentenced to six years and 11 months in federal prison for attempting to distribute fentanyl and heroin, including 10,000 fentanyl pills disguised as oxycodone. Buckner also possessed significant amounts of both drugs in a storage unit.
“Fentanyl and heroin pose an especially insidious danger to the public because they are so often disguised as counterfeit pills,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “This investigation and prosecution are the product of our collaborative efforts with our law enforcement partners to remove these deadly drugs from our communities and hold accountable individuals, such as Buckner, who attempt to distribute and profit from them.”
The investigation revealed that in April 2023, Buckner attempted to sell 10,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills, which actually contained fentanyl. When DEA agents confronted him near the location of the planned drug sale, Buckner fled on foot, abandoning his vehicle. A subsequent search of a storage unit linked to Buckner uncovered a kilogram of fentanyl and over a kilogram of heroin. He was apprehended three months later during a fugitive operation.
Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division, emphasized the agency’s commitment to community safety: “The investigation and subsequent conviction of this drug dealer demonstrates the DEA’s commitment to fight drug traffickers who have no regard for the citizens of our community.”
Buckner was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Leigh Martin May and will be subject to four years of supervised release following his prison term. He pleaded guilty to the charges of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances on May 23, 2024.
The investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the Georgia State Patrol and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric J. White and John T. DeGenova prosecuted the case.
