12 Defendants in Mexico-to-Georgia Meth Ring Face Federal Sentencing

ATHENS, Ga. – A dozen people tied to a large methamphetamine trafficking ring that moved thousands of kilograms of drugs from Mexico to a conversion site in Monroe, Georgia, are being brought to justice in federal court following a sweeping Operation Take Back America investigation.

Federal, state and local authorities say the organization smuggled meth hidden inside boxes of jalapeños, processed it at a conversion lab on Mountain Creek Church Road and distributed it across the region.

U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes said the case highlights extensive efforts underway in the Middle District of Georgia to disrupt cartel-backed drug networks. Leaders from the FBI, DEA, GBI, Walton County Sheriff’s Office and Athens-Clarke County Police also credited the joint investigation for dismantling an operation responsible for trafficking extraordinary quantities of methamphetamine.

Defendants awaiting sentencing

The following defendants have pleaded guilty and will be sentenced Jan. 12, 2026:

James Len Ramey, 53, Comer, Ga. – Conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute meth; faces up to life in prison with a mandatory minimum of ten years and a $10 million fine.
Kendell Cawthon, 60, Baldwin, Ga. – Conspiracy to distribute meth; faces up to life with a ten-year minimum and a $10 million fine.
Bonterris Turner, 45, Athens, Ga. – Same charge and penalties as above.
Demetrius Appling, 38, Crawford, Ga. – Same charge and penalties.
Yirla Adame Gomez, 25, Mexico – Same charge and penalties.
Rafael Gomez Flores, 22, Mexico – Same charge and penalties.
Andrea Robinson, 42, Cleveland, Ga. – Possession with intent to distribute meth; faces up to 20 years and a $250,000 fine.

The following defendant has pleaded guilty and will be sentenced Feb. 11, 2026:

Yuretzi Adame Gomez, 40, Mexico – Conspiracy to distribute meth; faces up to life with a ten-year minimum and a $10 million fine.

Defendants already sentenced

Christopher Hyatt, 46, LaGrange, Ga. – 292 months in prison, 5 years supervised release.
Uriel Garcia, 34, Mexico – 240 months, 5 years supervised release.
Jared Kenyatta Calhoun, 33, Birmingham, Ala. – 210 months, 5 years supervised release.
Ebony Jones-Tate, 33, Birmingham, Ala. – 90 days home confinement, 3 years supervised release.

How the investigation unfolded

According to court records, the FBI in Athens first received information in early 2024 that Ramey was selling large quantities of meth from Rapid Lube, an auto shop where he worked. Investigators then uncovered a supply chain tied to a meth conversion lab inside a residence in Monroe.

Agents installed surveillance, used informants, and eventually seized nearly 20 kilograms of meth during a June 2024 traffic stop on Ramey’s courier, Cawthon. After Ramey’s arrest that July, Rapid Lube employees discovered another six kilograms of suspected meth hidden inside oil filter boxes.

In August 2024, investigators moved on the Mountain Creek Church Road residence and a related Chevrolet Traverse. A sequence of traffic stops and searches uncovered multiple kilograms of meth, cash, and eventually an active conversion lab containing finished product and large amounts of liquid meth awaiting processing.

Inside the backyard, investigators found hundreds of pounds of rotting jalapeños and discarded produce boxes. A drug ledger seized from the house documented more than 1,500 kilograms of meth processed at the property between February and August 2024. Agents believe roughly 3,200 kilograms were delivered to the site from Mexico during four separate shipments.

Operation Take Back America

The case is part of Operation Take Back America, a Department of Justice initiative aimed at countering transnational criminal organizations, violent drug traffickers and related crime. The investigation involved the FBI’s Middle Georgia Safe Streets Gang Task Force, DEA, GBI, Walton County Sheriff’s Office, Athens-Clarke County Police Department and the Georgia State Patrol.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Morrison is prosecuting the case.