Tifton Man Faces Up to 40 Years in Federal Prison for Meth Trafficking and Fleeing Deputies

Travarious Deshawn Mike, 29, of Tifton, Georgia, has pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of methamphetamine and now faces up to 40 years in federal prison. Mike’s arrest and subsequent conviction stem from his involvement in a drug trafficking operation that brought large quantities of methamphetamine from a Mexican source of supply into the Tifton community. Mike had been previously arrested for drug trafficking, wearing an ankle monitor at the time of his latest offenses.

The investigation into Mike began in August 2022 when the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) recorded him engaging in a controlled drug transaction at a Church’s Chicken in Tifton. The GBI’s efforts revealed that Mike was traveling to Atlanta, where he sourced methamphetamine and heroin before returning to Tifton to distribute the drugs. On August 30, 2022, GBI agents tracked Mike’s movements as he traveled from Tifton to Atlanta, where he briefly stopped at two Mexican restaurants before returning home.

During this time, agents with the Crisp County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) initiated a traffic stop on Mike’s vehicle for a defective brake light and a window tint violation. The traffic stop led to a K9 alert, which uncovered 502 grams of heroin in Mike’s vehicle. In a separate operation, the Tifton Police Department conducted surveillance on Mike’s residence, leading to the discovery of over 8 kilograms of 67.9% pure methamphetamine in a vehicle leaving his home.

A court-authorized search of Mike’s residence turned up multiple firearms, methamphetamine, digital scales, and other drug-related paraphernalia. Additionally, a vehicle belonging to a co-defendant parked outside the residence was found to contain over 700 grams of methamphetamine, a heroin and fentanyl mixture, oxycodone/fentanyl pills, crack cocaine, and plastic baggies.

In June 2024, Mike led deputies on a high-speed chase in Monroe County, Georgia, after being observed committing a traffic violation. During the pursuit, Mike discarded a brick-shaped package out of his vehicle window, which was later found to contain about one pound of methamphetamine. Mike eventually crashed his vehicle and attempted to flee on foot, but deputies apprehended him. At the time of his arrest, Mike was wearing an ankle monitor from a previous drug trafficking case.

Mike was charged with felony drug distribution and other offenses related to the trafficking and possession of methamphetamine. He faces up to 20 years in prison per count, along with a $1 million fine for each charge, and at least three years of supervised release. A sentencing date has yet to be determined.

The investigation was led by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Georgia State Patrol (GSP), Tifton Police Department, Crisp County Sheriff’s Office, and Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Redavid is prosecuting the case for the Government.