Winterville Man Sentenced to 22 Years for Cocaine Trafficking and Illegal Firearm Possession

Mandrell Antwoin Hull, 44, of Winterville, Georgia, was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison on February 12, 2025, after pleading guilty to possessing cocaine with intent to distribute and illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Hull’s sentence, totaling 264 months, will be followed by five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

“We must hold repeat offenders accountable when they illegally arm themselves and violate the laws put in place to maintain order and safety for everyone,” said Acting U.S. Attorney C. Shanelle Booker. “Our dedicated federal prosecutorial team continues to work alongside our local, state and federal law enforcement partners to help ensure their efforts result in justice.”

“Criminals like Hull continue to plague our communities with blatant disregard for the safety of others and reckless indifference to the law. It is only through our local and federal partnerships that we are able to put a stop to these violent repeat offenders,” said Robert Gibbs, Senior Supervisory Special Agent of FBI Atlanta’s Athens office. “This case is another example of how the FBI and our law enforcement partners are dedicated to keeping the streets of Georgia safe for everyone in our community.”

Hull, who has a lengthy criminal history with seven prior felony convictions in Athens-Clarke, Gwinnett, and the Middle District of Georgia, was serving federal supervised release for a 2018 conviction related to marijuana distribution at the time of his arrest. On April 11, 2023, the United States Probation Office (USPO) contacted the FBI to request assistance with a search of Hull’s residence in Winterville after suspecting he was storing illegal drugs.

During the search, law enforcement officers discovered cocaine, over $32,000 in drug proceeds, and a loaded 9mm pistol. As a convicted felon, Hull was prohibited from possessing a firearm.

The case is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, which aims to reduce violent crime and gun violence through law enforcement collaboration and community partnerships.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI Athens Resident Agency Middle Georgia Safe Streets Gang Task Force and the Oglethorpe County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Morrison prosecuted the case.