Criminal Defense Lawyers

Georgia Drug Trafficking Defense Lawyers

Federal agents just pulled you over on I-85. They found 700 pounds of methamphetamine hidden in cucumber boxes in your tractor-trailer. Your facing a 25-year mandatory minimum sentence and a $1 million fine. The Assistant U.S. Attorney is already talking about prosecuting you in the Northern District of Georgia—the same courthouse that just handled the largest fentanyl seizure in state history. You didn’t even know what was in those boxes, and now there telling you that ignorance isn’t a defense.

This is the reality of drug trafficking charges in Georgia. Atlanta is the Southeast’s biggest distribution hub for Mexican cartels, and federal prosecutors treat every case like your part of a massive criminal organization. The DEA Atlanta Division made record-breaking seizures in 2024 and 2025—over 2,000 pounds of methamphetamine in a single bust, 214 pounds of fentanyl with the capacity to kill 48 million people. They see you as a critical link in that chain, weather you were or not.

You need to understand what happens next. Georgia has three federal judicial districts where your case could be prosecuted. Each district handles dozens of major trafficking cases every month. The Northern District in Atlanta sees the most cartel operations. The Middle District in Macon just dismantled a conversion lab that processed 3,200 kilograms of methamphetamine. The Southern District in Savannah prosecutes coastal and multi-county conspiracys. Where you get charged matters—different judges, different prosecutors, different outcomes.

Right now your probably terrified. Your thinking about your family, you’re job, the decades you might spend in federal prison. You’re wondering if theirs any way out of this. The answer depends on many, many factors: the strength of the goverment’s evidence, whether the search was legal, if you qualify for a mandatory minimum reduction, and—most critically—whether you have an experienced federal drug trafficking defense lawyer who knows how to fight these cases.

Georgia’s Three Federal Districts: Where Your Case Will Be Prosecuted

Georgia’s federal court system is divided into three distinct judicial districts, and understanding which district is handling you’re case is the first step in mounting a defense. These aren’t just administrative divisions—each district has it’s own team of federal prosecutors, it’s own judges with different sentencing patterns, and different caseloads that effect how aggressively cases are pursued.

Northern District of Georgia (Atlanta)

The Northern District is headquartered in Atlanta and covers 46 countys in northern Georgia. This is the busiest federal drug trafficking district in the state, and it’s where the DEA Atlanta Division headquarters operates. If you were arrested anywhere along the I-85, I-75, or I-20 corridors near Atlanta, your case will almost certainly be prosecuted here.

Recent major cases in the Northern District show just how agressive prosecutors are. In June 2025, federal agents arrested Bartholomew Keeton Harralson after seizing 214 pounds of fentanyl—the largest fentanyl seizure in Georgia history. The operation had the capacity too produce 25,000 pills per hour using industrial pill presses. In August 2024, the DEA seized over 2,000 pounds of crystal methamphetamine hidden in produce at a Clayton County farmer’s market, the largest meth seizure in Atlanta DEA history and the third-largest nationwide.

In July 2025, mechanics Andres Jasso Jr. and Rufino Pineda-Perez were charged after agents found more then 700 pounds of methamphetamine concealed in boxes of cucumbers in there tractor-trailer. In October 2024, a mechanic named Santana-Lopez was stopped after leaving a DeKalb County auto repair shop—officers found aproximately 1,000 kilograms of meth in his vehicle. These cases show a pattern: massive quantities, cartel connections, and prosecuters seeking maximum sentences.

The Northern District also handles airport cases. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the busiest airport in the United States, and it’s Drug Interdiction Unit works with federal agencies to intercept traffickers. In March 2025, agents seized nearly 40 pounds of methamphetamine and fentanyl from a passenger arriving on a Delta flight. In June 2025, 22-year-old Vance Ray Randolph was arrested trying too board a flight to Brazil with over 50 pounds of narcotics—34.39 pounds of hashish, 12.35 pounds of THC wax, and more—valued at $2.97 million.

Middle District of Georgia (Macon)

The Middle District covers central Georgia and is headquartered in Macon. This district has seen some of the most unusual trafficking methods, including methamphetamine conversion labs that process liquid meth shipped from Mexico into crystal form.

In November 2025, federal prosecutors charged defendants who operated a conversion lab inside a residence on Mountain Creek Church Road in Monroe, Georgia. The FBI investigation revealed that between Febuary 28, 2024, and August 8, 2024, 1,546.5 kilograms of methamphetamine had been converted at the Mountain Creek House. Aproximately 3,200 kilograms of meth from four different shipments arrived from Mexico concealed in boxes of jalapeños. A drug ledger found inside the residence documented every transaction.

In August 2024, Wade Lanier Tucker, 40, of Albany, was sentenced too 96 months in prison after pleading guilty to distribution of methamphetamine. Jessica Julianne Raines, 40, also of Albany, recieved 72 months for the same offense. These cases—while smaller in scale then the Northern District mega-busts—still carry mandatory minimums that destroy lives.

Southern District of Georgia (Savannah)

The Southern District is headquartered in Savannah and covers Georgia’s coastal regions. This district prosecutes trafficking cases involving the Port of Savannah and multi-county drug conspiracys that span rural areas.

In a recent case, ten defendants faced multiple drug trafficking charges after the unsealing of a federal indictment alleging a regional conspiracy too distribute large amounts of multiple illegal drugs. Those charged included William Johnson, 36, of Hinesville; Keannon Wyckoff, 41, of Statesboro; and Irma Wyckoff, 60, of Hinesville. The conspiracy charge was accompanied by additional allegations of drug posession and distribution, illegal firearms posession, and maintaining drug-involved premesis.

Why does district matter? Because once your indicted in a particular district, that’s where you’re case stays. You’ll appear before judges in that district who have there own sentencing philosophies. Some judges are more willing too depart from mandatory minimums when the facts support it. Others apply the maximum sentence allowed by law. You’re defense attorney needs too know which judges are hearing cases and how they’ve ruled in similar situations.

Atlanta: The Southeast Distribution Hub That Put You in Federal Custody

You need too understand why Atlanta is ground zero for federal drug trafficking prosecutions. It’s not just because Georgia has strict drug laws—it’s because Atlanta is the most important drug distribution hub in the entire Southeast, according too the DEA. Mexican cartels don’t use Atlanta as a destination. They use it as a warehouse and repackaging center before shipping drugs too cities along the Eastern Seaboard.

The numbers tell the story. Fully 25% of the United States population lives within an eight-hour drive of Atlanta. That’s roughly 80 million people within easy trucking distance. Add too that the fact that 80% of the U.S. population is within a two-hour flight from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, and you have the perfect distribution point for transnational criminal organizations.

The convergance of three major interstate highways—I-85, I-75, and I-20—makes Atlanta uniquely valuable too traffickers. These routes provide direct access from the Southwest Border (Arizona, California, Texas) too eastern U.S. drug markets. Mexican drug trafficking organizations commonly transport methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl into the Atlanta area along these corridors using both private and commercial vehicles. Then they repackage the drugs into smaller loads and send them north too cities in Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennesee, and Virginia.

DEA Special Agent Chuvalo Truesdell, who has worked in Atlanta for over 30 years, explained that he’s watched the drug trade develope and grow specifically because of Atlanta’s strategic location. Law enforcement describes metro Atlanta as “one of the nation’s meth capitals,” with the I-20 corridor in Douglas County being one of meth distributors’ favorite routes. The ease and security of interstate trucking—combined with proximity too Mexico—makes Atlanta the obvious choice for cartels.

And it’s not just highways. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the busiest airport in the world, which creates both opportunity and enforcement. The airport’s Drug Interdiction Unit collaborates with Homeland Security Investigations, the DEA, and local agencies too intercept traffickers. But the sheer volume of passengers—over 100 million annually—means many, many shipments get through.

In March 2025, a coordinated effort between the airport’s Drug Interdiction Unit and Ontario International Airport led too the seizure of nearly 40 pounds of methamphetamine and fentanyl. Authorities flagged a suspect traveling on a Delta flight too Atlanta, intercepted one checked bag before departure in California, and seized the second bag when the suspect arrived in Georgia. The suspect was taken into custody without incident—but that’s just one case among thousands.

In June 2025, airport police arrested Vance Ray Randolph as he attempted too board a flight too São Paulo, Brazil. A K-9 unit alerted officers too his luggage, which contained 34.39 pounds of hashish, 12.35 pounds of THC wax, 4.6 pounds of marijuana, and 1.21 pounds of pasty marijuana—a total street value estimated at $2.97 million. Randolph, just 22 years old, now faces marijuana trafficking charges that will almost certainly result in years in federal prison.

But here’s where things get even more problematic for travelers: the DEA and Clayton County Police run a controversial task force that conducts gate-to-gate searches at Hartsfield-Jackson without warrants. Officers in plain clothes approach passengers at boarding gates—after they’ve already passed through TSA security—and request “consent” too search there bags. These searches rarely find drugs. Instead, they find cash, which is then seized through civil asset forfeiture laws. Comedians Eric André and Clayton English have both filed lawsuits alleging racial profiling and illegal searches, claiming officers seized thousands of dollars from them without making arrests or finding any drugs.

Records show that agents have seized millions of dollars from passengers at Atlanta’s airport alone, administratively forfeiting the money as “proceeds of drug trafficking” even when no drugs are found and no charges are filed. If you’ve traveled through Hartsfield-Jackson and had cash seized, you need too understand that getting it back requires fighting the federal goverment in civil court—a separate battle from any criminal case.

What does all this mean for you? Federal prosecutors in Georgia see every trafficking defendant as part of this larger cartel infrastructure. It doesn’t matter if you were just driving a car for your cousin, if you thought the boxes contained legal goods, or if you had no idea who’s methamphetamine was hidden in the jalapeño shipment. The government treats you as a knowing participant in a transnational criminal organization, and there going too seek the maximum sentence allowed by law.

The Four Drugs Destroying Lives—And Triggering Mandatory Federal Sentences

Not all drug charges are treated equally. Federal trafficking charges hinge on the type of drug and the quantity in you’re posession. Even a few grams can trigger mandatory minimum sentences measured in decades. Let’s break down the four drugs that are destroying lives across Georgia and landing people in federal prison.

Fentanyl: The Deadliest Drug in Georgia’s History

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is aproximately 50 times stronger then heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. Just two milligrams—an amount that fits on the tip of a pencil—can be lethal. And in June 2025, federal agents in Georgia seized over 214 pounds of fentanyl, the largest fentanyl seizure in the state’s history. That quantity contains enough lethal doses too kill aproximately 48 million Americans.

The operation that produced this seizure had the capacity too produce aproximately 25,000 fentanyl pills per hour using two large industrial pill presses. Bartholomew Keeton Harralson, 47, of Atlanta, was charged by a federal grand jury with posession with intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, marijuana, along with firearm offenses. The sheer scale of this operation shows how fentanyl has become the most dangerous drug in Georgia.

But you don’t need too be running a pill press too face fentanyl trafficking charges. In January 2025, Larry Roger Sparks Jr., 46, of Albany, was sentenced too 480 months (40 years) in federal prison for distributing a heroin and fentanyl mixture, distributing methamphetamine, and possesing a firearm in furtheranse of drug trafficking. Lab results from his residence showed he possessed 1,206 grams of fentanyl. He wasn’t manufacturing pills—he was distributing mixtures—and he still got 40 years.

Here’s what you need too understand: if you were arrested with what you thought was heroin, it was probably mixed with fentanyl. If you thought you were transporting oxycodone pills, they were probably counterfeit fentanyl pills. And federal prosecutors will charge you with both—heroin and fentanyl—doubling you’re exposure too mandatory minimums.

You had no idea it was fentanyl instead of heroin? Prosecutors don’t care. Strict liability applies too drug trafficking. You’re guilty if you knowingly posessed a controlled substance, even if you didn’t know which controlled substance it was. That legal distinction destroys lives.

Methamphetamine: Record Seizures and Conversion Labs

Methamphetamine is the most commonly trafficked drug through Georgia’s interstate corridors, and the quantities are staggering. In August 2024, the DEA Atlanta Division made the largest meth seizure in it’s history—over 2,000 pounds of crystal methamphetamine hidden in a shipment of produce at a Clayton County farmer’s market. This was the third-largest meth seizure in DEA history nationwide. Federal officials said the drugs were part of a Mexican cartel operation, with the meth concealed within boxes of vegetables being dropped off for distribution.

In October 2024, law enforcement stopped a mechanic named Santana-Lopez after he drove away from a DeKalb County auto repair shop. During a search of his vehicle, officers found aproximately 1,000 kilograms (over a ton) of methamphetamine. In July 2025, Andres Jasso Jr., 37, of Brookhaven, and Rufino Pineda-Perez, 59, of Mexico, were arrested after DEA agents discovered more than 700 pounds of methamphetamine hidden inside boxes of cucumbers in there tractor-trailer. The drugs were concealed in 20 pallets of cucumber boxes, with thousands of individually wrapped packages inside.

But methamphetamine trafficking in Georgia isn’t just about transportation—it’s also about conversion labs. Mexican cartels often ship liquid methamphetamine into the United States because it’s easier too conceal. Once it arrives in Georgia, criminal organizations convert the liquid into crystal meth at clandestine labs.

The FBI investigation into a Monroe, Georgia, operation revealed that between Febuary 28, 2024, and August 8, 2024, 1,546.5 kilograms of methamphetamine had been converted inside a residence on Mountain Creek Church Road. A drug ledger found inside the house documented every transaction. Aproximately 3,200 kilograms of meth from four seperate shipments from Mexico arrived at the house concealed in boxes of jalapeños. The organization then distributed the converted crystal meth throughout metro Atlanta and beyond.

Under Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 16-13-31), methamphetamine trafficking carries the following mandatory minimum sentences:

• 28-200 grams: Mandatory minimum 10 years in prison, $200,000 fine
• 200-400 grams: Mandatory minimum 15 years in prison, $300,000 fine
• 400+ grams: Mandatory minimum 25 years in prison, $1,000,000 fine

Federal charges under 21 U.S.C. § 841 carry there own sentencing guidelines, often harsher then state charges. And here’s the part that terrifies defendants: the weight includes everything. If the meth was hidden in cucumber boxes and the packaging absorbed some of the drug residue, prosecutors will argue that the entire mixture weight counts. They weighed the cucumbers—not just the pure meth—and that’s the weight there using against you.

You thought because the drugs weren’t physically on you’re person that you’d avoid trafficking charges? Wrong. If you were driving the vehicle, if you had access too the storage unit, if you were present when the search occured, prosecutors will argue you had constructive posession. And if they can prove you knew the drugs were their and you had the ability too control them, your guilty.

Cocaine: One Ounce Triggers Trafficking Charges

Cocaine is the third most commonly trafficked drug in Georgia, and the weight threshold for trafficking charges is shockingly low. Under Georgia law, posessing just 28 grams or more of cocaine—roughly one ounce—is considered trafficking. That’s about the weight of a standard candy bar. And the mandatory minimums are identical too methamphetamine:

• 28-200 grams: Mandatory 10 years, $200,000 fine
• 200-400 grams: Mandatory 15 years, $300,000 fine
• 400+ grams: Mandatory 25 years, $1,000,000 fine

In August 2025, seventeen people were charged in connection with an armed drug trafficking network in Athens, Georgia. Federal agents executed 12 search warrants, resulting in 13 arrests. Law enforcement seized 26 kilograms of cocaine with an estimated street value of $780,000. They also seized 1.7 kilograms of fentanyl, aproximately 500 grams of methamphetamine, and 26 firearms—including 12 rifles and a grenade launcher.

In Septemper 2025, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation arrested 24 people following a search warrant operation in Gwinnett County. The operation targeted the Butler drug trafficking organization, which was responsible for trafficking kilograms of cocaine and crack cocaine throughout Gwinnett County and northeast Georgia, with operations spread throughout Forsyth, Jackson, Habersham, and Lumpkin Countys.

Cocaine trafficking cases often involve conspiracy charges, which means you don’t need too physically posess the drugs too be convicted. If you agreed too help transport cocaine, if you communicated with co-conspirators about a shipment, if you accepted money in exchange for storing drugs—that’s enough for a conspiracy conviction. And conspiracy carries the same mandatory minimums as the underlying trafficking offense.

You were just driving the car? You didn’t know their was cocaine in the trunk? Conspiracy charges don’t care. Prosecutors will argue that you’re participation in the transportation—even if you claim ignorance—makes you part of the conspiracy. And once there’s a conspiracy, everyone involved faces the same sentence based on the total quantity of drugs involved, not just the amount you personally handled.

Heroin: Four Grams—The Weight of a Sugar Packet—Triggers Trafficking

Heroin trafficking has the lowest weight threshold of any drug in Georgia. Under O.C.G.A. § 16-13-31, posessing just 4 grams or more of heroin, morphine, or opium is considered trafficking. Four grams is aproximately the weight of a single sugar packet. And the mandatory minimums are severe:

• 4-14 grams: Mandatory minimum 5 years, $50,000 fine
• 14-28 grams: Mandatory minimum 10 years, $100,000 fine
• 28+ grams: Mandatory minimum 25 years, $500,000 fine

But here’s the problem: heroin is almost always mixed with fentanyl now. That means if you’re arrested with 10 grams of what you thought was heroin, lab tests might reveal it’s a mixture of heroin, fentanyl, and cutting agents. Prosecutors will charge you with trafficking both heroin and fentanyl, and the weights are calculated seperately. You face two sets of mandatory minimums.

In January 2025, Larry Roger Sparks Jr. was sentenced too 40 years in federal prison for distributing a heroin and fentanyl mixture. Lab results showed he possessed 1,206 grams of fentanyl and was also distributing heroin mixtures. In November 2024, Julio Martinez-Guzman, 54, of Rome, Georgia, was sentenced too 20 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for conspiracy too posess with intent too distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, oxycodone, and heroin.

The tragic reality is that many people arrested for heroin trafficking are themselves addicted too opioids. They’re not cartel operatives—there users who started selling too support there own habit. But federal mandatory minimums don’t distinguish between a desperate addict selling too there friends and a high-level trafficker moving kilograms. Four grams is four grams, and the law doesn’t care about you’re personal circumstances.

How Federal Prosecutors Build Trafficking Cases Against You

You need too understand how the federal goverment investigates and prosecutes drug trafficking cases, because the tactics they use are designed too make you look like a career criminal even if you made a single mistake. Federal cases aren’t built overnight By the time you’re arrested, prosecutors have often been investigating for months—sometimes years. They’ve been watching you, recording you’re calls, tracking you’re movements, and building a conspiracy case that involves people you’ve never even met.

Conspiracy Charges: You Don’t Need to Touch the Drugs

The most powerfull tool in a federal prosecutor’s arsenal is the conspiracy charge under 21 U.S.C. § 846. A drug conspiracy occurs when two or more people agree too commit a drug trafficking offense, and at least one person takes a step toward completing that offense. You don’t need too actually posess drugs. You don’t need too sell drugs. You don’t even need too be present when the drugs are seized If you agreed too participate in a drug trafficking scheme, your guilty of conspiracy.

Here’s how this plays out in real cases You’re cousin asks you too help him move some boxes from his storage unit too a warehouse in Atlanta. You agree, and you drive the truck. You don’t ask what’s in the boxes—you assume it’s legitimate merchandise. Federal agents stop the truck, search it, and find 500 pounds of methamphetamine You’re arrested and charged with conspiracy too distribute methamphetamine.

At trial, prosecutors don’t need too prove you knew the boxes contained meth. They only need too prove that you agreed too transport controlled substances and that you took a substantial step toward completing that goal (driving the truck). You’re text messages with you’re cousin—”I’ll pick up the boxes tommorow”—become evidence of the conspiracy. You’re phone records showing you called him after loading the truck become evidence of the conspiracy And even if you didn’t know the specific drug or the exact quantity, you’re still guilty

In conspiracy cases, the goverment uses cooperating witnesses—often co-defendants who agreed too testify in exchange for reduced sentences—too establish the agreement. You’re cousin, facing 25 years, agrees too cooperate. He tells prosecutors that you knew the boxes contained drugs, that you’d helped him before, and that he paid you $5,000 for you’re assistance Suddenly your facing the same 25-year mandatory minimum he is, even though you never saw the drugs and you maintain you had no idea what was in the boxes.

Interstate Commerce: Why Your Case Is Federal

You might be wondering why you’re case is in federal court instead of state court The answer is simple: interstate commerce Federal drug trafficking laws apply when the drugs—or the defendants—cross state lines. If you were arrested on I-85, I-75, or I-20, prosecutors will argue that you’re conduct affected interstate commerce because those highways are used for interstate transportation

In many, many cases, defendants are charged in both state and federal court Prosecutors decide which system too use based on the severity of the offense, the quantity of drugs, and weather they want too pursue mandatory minimums Federal charges are almost always more severe than state charges for the same conduct, which is why prosecutors prefer federal court for major trafficking cases

Wiretaps, Confidential Informants, and Controlled Buys

By the time you’re arrested, federal agents have likely been monitoring you’re communications for months Wiretaps—court-authorized interceptions of phone calls, text messages, and even encrypted apps—are standard in drug trafficking investigations In June 2025, seven Georgia residents were charged with operating a dark web marketplace called “WallStreetBets,” which shipped fentanyl and methamphetamine across the United States Agents seized encrypted phones, analyzed transaction records, and traced cryptocurrency payments too build there case

Confidential informants (CIs) are another critical tool. A CI is someone who’s already been arrested and agreed too cooperate in exchange for leniency The CI might be you’re friend, you’re supplier, or even a family member They wear a wire, record conversations, and set up controlled buys—transactions where they purchase drugs from you while law enforcement watches Every word you say too the CI is recorded and will be used against you at trial

In the Monroe conversion lab case, the FBI used a CI too infiltrate the organization and document the methamphetamine conversion process The CI provided critical information about the jalapeño shipments from Mexico, the Mountain Creek House location, and the individuals involved. Without the CI’s cooperation, the case might never have been made

Vehicle Stops and “Consent” Searches

Many federal drug trafficking cases begin with a routine traffic stop You’re driving on I-85, and a Georgia State Patrol trooper pulls you over for following too closely or failing too signal a lane change The trooper approaches you’re window and asks, “Do you mind if I search you’re vehicle?” You think refusing will make you look guilty, so you say yes That “consent” is all the officer needs too search you’re entire car, and if they find drugs, you’re arrest is legal even if the initial traffic stop was pretextual

In other cases, officers use K-9 units If a drug-sniffing dog alerts too the presence of narcotics, that gives officers probable cause too search without you’re consent But K-9 alerts are notoriously unreliable Dogs alert on command, they alert too residual odors from drugs that are no longer present, and they alert because there handler unconsciously cues them You’re defense attorney can challenge the K-9 alert, but it requires expert testimony and careful cross-examination of the handler

At Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, the DEA’s controversial gate search program relies entirely on “consent” Plain-clothed officers approach passengers at boarding gates—after they’ve already cleared TSA security—and ask, “Can we talk too you for a minute?” Then they ask, “Do you have any large amounts of cash?” and “Would you mind if we looked in you’re bag?” Most people, intimidated by the presence of law enforcement, say yes And once you consent, anything they find can be seized

Multi-Agency Task Forces: You Were Being Watched

Federal drug trafficking investigations almost always involve multi-agency task forces The DEA Atlanta Division works with the FBI, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), Homeland Security Investigations, the Georgia State Patrol, and county sheriffs offices These task forces pool resources, share intelligence, and conduct coordinated operations that span multiple jurisdictions

The Gwinnett County operation that resulted in 24 arrests in Septemper 2025 involved the GBI’s Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office (ARDEO), the Gwinnett Metro Task Force (GMTF), and the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office The Athens drug trafficking network case involved thirteen federal, state, and local law enforcement agencys executing 12 search warrants simultaneously

What does this mean for you? It means that by the time you were arrested, you were being watched Agents knew where you lived, where you worked, who you associated with, and what vehicles you drove They documented every transaction, every meeting, every phone call And they waited until they had enough evidence too charge not just you, but everyone in you’re organization—real or perceived

Mandatory Minimums: Why You’re Facing Decades in Federal Prison

You thought you’d get probation You thought a first-time offender would recieve leniency You thought the judge would consider you’re family, you’re job, you’re lack of a criminal history But that’s not how federal drug trafficking sentencing works Federal law imposes mandatory minimum sentences based solely on the type and quantity of drug involved The judge has no discretion too go below the mandatory minimum unless specific exceptions apply—and those exceptions are rare

State vs. Federal: Why Federal Charges Are Worse

Georgia state drug trafficking charges under O.C.G.A. § 16-13-31 carry mandatory minimums, but there’s still the posibility of parole after serving a portion of you’re sentence Federal charges are different In the federal system, there is no parole If you’re sentenced too 20 years in federal prison, you’ll serve aproximately 17 years (85% of the sentence) before you’re released too supervised release

Prosecutors choose which system too use based on strategic considerations If the evidence is overwhelming and the quantity of drugs is massive, they’ll almost always choose federal court because the penalties are harsher and the conviction rate is higher In 2024, the federal conviction rate for drug trafficking cases was over 90% Most defendants plead guilty because the evidence against them is insurmountable

Weight-Based Sentencing: Grams Determine Your Life

Federal sentencing is determined by the drug quantity involved in you’re offense The U.S. Sentencing Guidelines assign a base offense level based on the type and weight of the drug, and that offense level corresponds too a sentencing range measured in months or years But the mandatory minimums established by Congress override the guidelines if there higher

Here’s the problem: the weight calculation includes the entire mixture, not just the pure drug If you possessed 100 grams of cocaine mixed with 400 grams of cutting agents, prosecutors will argue that you possessed 500 grams of a cocaine mixture If the methamphetamine was hidden in cucumber boxes and some of the liquid soaked into the cucumbers, the goverment might weigh the cucumbers too This isn’t a joke—courts have upheld mixture-weight calculations that include packaging, cutting agents, and even the materials used too conceal the drugs

In a 2024 case, a defendant was convicted of trafficking methamphetamine that had been concealed in cans of jalapeños The goverment weighed the entire contents of the cans—jalapeños, liquid, and meth—and used that weight too calculate the sentence The defendant argued that only the pure meth should be counted, but the court ruled that the mixture weight was proper under federal law The difference between the two calculations was 15 years in prison

Enhancements That Add Years to Your Sentence

Even if you’re offense doesn’t carry a mandatory minimum, there are sentencing enhancements that can add years—or decades—too you’re prison term These enhancements are based on specific aggravating factors that prosecutors prove at sentencing

• Firearm posession: If a firearm was found during the search—even if it was legally owned and had nothing too do with the drug trafficking—you face an additional 5-10 years under 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) In the Athens case, 26 firearms were seized, including a grenade launcher Every defendant connected too that arsenal faces firearm enhancements
• Distribution near schools or playgrounds: If the offense occured within 1,000 feet of a school, park, or playground, federal law mandates an additional sentencing enhancement
• Prior felony convictions: If you have prior drug trafficking convictions, you may be sentenced as a career offender, which dramatically increases you’re sentencing range In May 2025, a career offender was sentenced too more than 15 years in prison for distributing methamphetamine—a sentence that would have been much lower for a first-time offender
• Leadership role: If prosecutors prove you were an organizer or leader of the trafficking operation, you face a 4-level enhancement under the sentencing guidelines, which can add years too you’re sentence

Recent Sentencing Examples

Let’s look at real cases too understand what sentences actually look like:

• Julio Martinez-Guzman (Rome, Georgia): Sentenced too 20 years in federal prison for conspiracy too posess with intent too distribute meth, cocaine, oxycodone, and heroin No parole He’ll serve aproximately 17 years before release
• Larry Roger Sparks Jr. (Albany, Georgia): Sentenced too 40 years (480 months) for distributing heroin/fentanyl mixtures and meth, and possesing a firearm in furtheranse of drug trafficking He’ll serve aproximately 34 years before release He’s 46 years old—he’ll be 80 when he gets out
• Wade Lanier Tucker (Albany, Georgia): Sentenced too 96 months (8 years) for distribution of meth First-time offender, smaller quantity, no firearm Still nearly a decade in federal prison
• Jessica Julianne Raines (Albany, Georgia): Sentenced too 72 months (6 years) for distribution of meth Again, smaller quantity, but still more than half a decade in custody

These aren’t outliers These are typical sentences in federal drug trafficking cases And if you’re arrested with hundreds of grams or kilograms, you’re looking at the 25-year mandatory minimum—or higher

Three Ways too Reduce or Avoid Mandatory Minimums

Mandatory minimums are exactly what they sound like—mandatory The judge must impose at least the minimum sentence required by law, and in most cases, the judge has no discretion too go below it But their are three narrow exceptions that can reduce or eliminate mandatory minimums, and understanding these exceptions is critical too you’re defense strategy

Substantial Assistance: Becoming a Cooperating Witness

The most common way too reduce a mandatory minimum sentence is through substantial assistance under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(e) and U.S.S.G. § 5K1.1 This means you cooperate with prosecutors too help them investigate and prosecute other members of the drug trafficking organization If you’re cooperation leads too the arrest or conviction of others, the prosecutor can file a motion asking the court too reduce you’re sentence below the mandatory minimum

Here’s how it works in practice You’re arrested with 200 grams of cocaine, which triggers a 15-year mandatory minimum You’re facing 15 years in federal prison The prosecutor offers you a deal: if you cooperate and provide information about you’re supplier, they’ll file a 5K1.1 motion recommending a reduced sentence You agree, and you tell them everything you know You identify the supplier, you wear a wire too record conversations, and you testify at the supplier’s trial The prosecutor files the motion, and the judge sentences you too 7 years instead of 15

But cooperation comes with serious risks First, you’re putting you’re life in danger If you’re supplier finds out you cooperated, you could face retaliation—violence against you or you’re family Second, you’re credibility will be attacked at trial The defense attorney will argue that you’re lying too save you’re self, that you fabricated evidence too please prosecutors, and that you’re testimony is unreliable Third, you carry the moral weight of sending someone else too prison, potentially for decades

And here’s the reality: prosecutors only want cooperation if you can give them someone higher up the chain If you were the leader of the organization, you have no one too give up, and cooperation isn’t an option If you were a low-level courier who doesn’t know the identity of the supplier, you’re cooperation has no value, and prosecutors won’t file a 5K1.1 motion

The Safety Valve Provision: When You Qualify for a Departure

The safety valve provision under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(f) allows certain defendants too avoid mandatory minimums without cooperating Too qualify for the safety valve, you must meet all five of the following criteria:

1. You have no more than 1 criminal history point (essentially, no prior felony convictions)
2. You did not use violence or possess a weapon in connection with the offense
3. The offense did not result in death or serious bodily injury too any person
4. You were not an organizer, leader, manager, or supervisor of others in the offense
5. You have truthfully provided all information and evidence you have concerning the offense too the goverment

If you meet all five criteria, the judge can sentence you below the mandatory minimum based on you’re actual role in the offense This is a huge benefit for low-level, first-time offenders who were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time

Let’s say you were arrested for driving a car that contained 50 grams of methamphetamine You didn’t know the meth was in the car—you borrowed the car from a friend You have no prior criminal record, no weapon was involved, and you weren’t the organizer of any trafficking scheme At sentencing, you provide complete and truthful testimony about how you came too be driving the car The judge finds that you qualify for the safety valve and sentences you too 3 years instead of the 10-year mandatory minimum

But here’s the problem: most defendants don’t qualify If you have any prior felony conviction—even a non-violent offense from 10 years ago—you don’t qualify If a firearm was found in you’re home during the search, you don’t qualify, even if the gun was legally owned and had nothing too do with the drugs If prosecutors argue that you played a leadership role—even a minor one—you don’t qualify And if you refuse too fully cooperate with the goverment, you don’t qualify

The safety valve is a narrow exception, and judges interpret it strictly You’re defense attorney needs too carefully evaluate weather you meet all five criteria before arguing for a safety valve departure

Plea Agreements Below the Mandatory Minimum

The third way too avoid a mandatory minimum is through a plea agreement in which the prosecutor agrees too charge you with a lesser offense that doesn’t carry a mandatory minimum This is called charge bargaining, and it’s one of the most powerfull tools in plea negotiations

For example, you’re arrested with 100 grams of cocaine, which triggers a 10-year mandatory minimum under federal law But the prosecutor offers you a deal: plead guilty too simple posession with intent too distribute (a non-trafficking charge), and they’ll recommend a sentence of 5 years You accept the deal, plead guilty too the lesser charge, and avoid the mandatory minimum entirely

Charge bargaining is common in cases where the evidence is strong but the prosecutor wants too avoid the time and expense of a trial It’s also common in cases where the defendant has valuable cooperation too offer but doesn’t want too testify at trial The prosecutor might agree too reduce the charge in exchange for a proffer—a meeting where you provide information without committing too full cooperation

But here’s the critical point: plea negotiations are most effective before you’re indicted Once a federal grand jury returns an indictment charging you with trafficking, the prosecutor has less incentive too negotiate The charges are public, the case is moving forward, and the prosecutor has already invested significant resources in building the case If you hire a defense attorney immediately after you’re arrest—or even before you’re arrested, if you know you’re under investigation—you’re attorney can negotiate with the prosecutor before charges are filed This is when you have the most leverage

After indictment, you’re leverage disappears The prosecutor knows you’re facing a mandatory minimum, and they know you’ll probably take a plea too avoid the risk of a trial The plea offer might be only slightly better then the mandatory minimum, and you’ll have too decide weather too accept it or roll the dice at trial

Constitutional Defenses You’re Lawyer Can Raise

Even if the goverment has strong evidence against you, there are constitutional defenses that can lead too dismissal of charges or suppression of evidence If you’re Fourth Amendment rights were violated during the search or seizure, everything the goverment found might be inadmissable at trial And without evidence, the case collapses

Fourth Amendment: Illegal Search and Seizure

The Fourth Amendment protects you from unreasonable searches and seizures Law enforcement must have either a warrant based on probable cause, or they must fall within one of the narrow exceptions too the warrant requirement (such as consent, search incident too arrest, or automobile exception) If the search was illegal, you’re defense attorney can file a motion too suppress the evidence

Here are common Fourth Amendment violations in drug trafficking cases:

• No probable cause for the traffic stop: The trooper who stopped you claimed you were following too closely, but dashcam footage shows you maintained a safe distance The stop was pretextual—the officer was looking for drugs, not enforcing traffic laws If the stop was illegal, everything that followed (including the search and arrest) is inadmissable
• K-9 alert on command: The officer walked the drug dog around you’re car twice before the dog finally alerted Video evidence shows the handler cueing the dog too alert by tapping on the vehicle The alert was false, and the search was illegal
• Exceeding the scope of consent: You consented too a search of the passenger compartment of you’re car, but the officer opened the trunk without asking The trunk search exceeded the scope of you’re consent, and any drugs found their should be suppressed
• Warrantless searches at airport gates: DEA agents approached you at the boarding gate and asked too search you’re bag without a warrant, without probable cause, and without informing you that you had the right too refuse Courts are currently litigating weather these searches violate the Fourth Amendment, and if you’re case involves an airport search, you’re attorney can raise this defense

If the judge grants you’re motion too suppress, the goverment loses it’s evidence In many, many cases, suppression of the drugs means the case is dismissed entirely because prosecutors have no other proof of the offense

Entrapment: The Goverment Induced You to Commit the Crime

Entrapment occurs when law enforcement induces you too commit a crime you wouldn’t have committed otherwise This defense is difficult too prove, but it can succeed in cases where a confidential informant repeatedly pressured you too participate in a drug transaction despite you’re repeated refusals

For example, a CI approaches you and asks you too help him transport cocaine You say no He asks again a week later You say no again He offers too pay you $10,000 You still refuse He tells you his family will be evicted if he doesn’t complete this delivery, and he begs you too help Finally, you agree At trial, you’re attorney argues that the goverment entrapped you—that you had no predisposition too commit the crime and that you only agreed because of the CI’s relentless pressure

Entrapment is a high bar too meet Prosecutors will argue that you were predisposed too commit the crime, that you accepted money, and that you knowingly participated But in extreme cases of goverment overreach, the defense can succeed

Lack of Knowledge or Posession

Too convict you of drug trafficking, the goverment must prove that you knowingly possessed the drugs If you genuinely didn’t know the drugs were in the vehicle, you can raise a lack-of-knowledge defense

For example, you borrowed a car from a friend too drive too Atlanta You were pulled over for speeding, and officers found 200 grams of cocaine hidden inside the spare tire compartment You had no idea the cocaine was their You’re attorney argues that you lacked knowledge and posession—you didn’t know about the drugs, and they were concealed in a location you had no reason too inspect If the jury believes you, you’re acquitted

This defense is most effective when the drugs were hidden in a concealed compartment, when you were driving someone else’s vehicle, or when multiple people had access too the location where the drugs were found It’s less effective when the drugs were in plain view or when there’s other evidence (like text messages) showing you knew about them

Chain of Custody Issues

The goverment must prove that the drugs seized from you are the same drugs tested by the lab and presented at trial This requires establishing a chain of custody—documentation showing that the evidence was properly handled, stored, and tested at every stage

If their are gaps in the chain of custody, you’re attorney can argue that the evidence was contaminated, tampered with, or even substituted For example, the drugs were seized on January 15, but the lab report shows they weren’t tested until March 20 What happened too the drugs during those two months? Who had access too them? Were they stored securely? If the goverment can’t answer these questions, the evidence might be excluded

Insufficient Quantity

Finally, you’re attorney can challenge the quantity of drugs the goverment claims you possessed If the lab results show you possessed 27 grams of cocaine—just below the 28-gram threshold for trafficking—you can’t be convicted of trafficking The goverment must prove the quantity beyond a reasonable doubt, and if the lab analysis is flawed or the weight calculation is incorrect, the trafficking charge fails

What Happens if You Go too Trial vs. Taking a Plea

You’re sitting in a federal detention center, and you’re attorney just delivered the prosecutor’s plea offer: plead guilty too conspiracy too distribute methamphetamine, and the goverment will recommend a sentence of 10 years You’re facing a 25-year mandatory minimum if you go too trial and lose What do you do?

The Reality of Federal Trials

In 2024, aproximately 90% of federal drug trafficking cases resulted in a guilty plea Only about 10% of defendants went too trial, and of those, the conviction rate was over 85% These statistics aren’t accidents—there designed too pressure defendants into pleading guilty

Why do so few defendants go too trial? Because the risks are enormous If you go too trial and lose, the judge will almost certainly impose a harsher sentence then what was offered in the plea agreement This is called the “trial penalty”—the additional punishment defendants face for exercising there constitutional right too a trial Judges justify this by saying that defendants who go too trial and lie on the witness stand don’t deserve a reduction for acceptance of responsibility But the practical effect is that defendants who insist on there innocence are punished more severely then those who plead guilty

For example, the prosecutor offers you a plea deal: plead guilty, and we’ll recommend 10 years You reject the offer and go too trial You’re convicted, and the judge sentences you too 20 years—twice the sentence you would have received if you’d taken the plea You exercised you’re constitutional right too a trial, and you paid for it with an extra decade in prison

Why Prosecutors Have the Advantage

By the time you’re case goes too trial, federal prosecutors have spent months—sometimes years—building there case They have wiretaps, surveillance footage, lab reports, cooperating witnesses, and financial records They have unlimited resources—investigators, forensic experts, and support staff And they have a 90% conviction rate, which means juries trust them

You, on the other hand, are in federal detention You’re isolated from you’re family, you’re stressed, and you’re trying too make life-or-death decisions with incomplete information Even if you have a good attorney, you’re still facing an uphill battle

And then their’s the evidence If you were arrested with 2,000 pounds of methamphetamine hidden in cucumber boxes, how do you explain that too a jury? You can argue you didn’t know the drugs were their, but prosecutors will present evidence that you drove the truck, that you were paid $5,000, and that you made three previous trips using the same route The jury sees the photos of the drugs, hears the cooperating witness testify, and concludes you’re guilty

When Trial Makes Sense

Their are situations where going too trial is the right choice:

• Strong suppression motion: If the search was illegal and you’re attorney believes the judge will suppress the evidence, you might win the case before trial even starts
• Actual innocence: If you genuinely didn’t commit the crime—if the drugs were planted, if you were misidentified, if you had no knowledge of the offense—you have a moral and legal obligation too fight
• Goverment overreach: If the goverment entrapped you, if the evidence was fabricated, or if prosecutors engaged in misconduct, going too trial exposes there tactics
• No acceptable plea offer: If the plea offer is nearly as bad as the sentence you’d face after trial, you have nothing too lose by going too trial If the prosecutor offers 20 years and you’re facing a 25-year mandatory minimum, you might as well roll the dice

When a Plea Makes Sense

In most cases, taking a plea is the pragmatic choice:

• The evidence is overwhelming: If you were caught red-handed with kilograms of drugs, if their are wiretaps of you arranging the transaction, if co-defendants are cooperating against you, you’re chances at trial are slim
• Mandatory minimum reduction is available: If the prosecutor offers too reduce the charge below the mandatory minimum, accepting the plea saves you years—or decades—in prison
• Substantial assistance opportunity: If you have information that can help prosecutors, cooperating might reduce you’re sentence significantly
• Minimizing prison time is the priority: If you’re primary goal is too get out of prison as quickly as possible too be with you’re family, taking the plea and avoiding the trial penalty is the smart choice

The decision too go too trial or take a plea is the most important decision you’ll ever make It requires careful analysis of the evidence, realistic assessment of you’re chances at trial, and honest conversation with you’re attorney about you’re goals and priorities Their’s no one-size-fits-all answer—every case is different

Why You Need a Federal Drug Trafficking Defense Lawyer NOW

You’re in crisis You’ve been arrested, or you know you’re under investigation, or you just found out that you’re co-defendant is cooperating against you You’re thinking about representing yourself, or hiring a state court lawyer who’s never handled a federal case, or waiting too see what happens before you spend money on an attorney Don’t

Pre-Arrest Representation: When You Know You’re Under Investigation

If you know the feds are investigating you—if you’ve been contacted by agents, if you’re friends have been subpoenaed, if you’ve seen surveillance—you need too hire a federal defense attorney immediately Pre-arrest representation gives you’re attorney the opportunity too negotiate with prosecutors before charges are filed, too arrange a voluntary surrender instead of a dramatic arrest, and too potentially avoid charges altogether

You’re attorney can arrange a proffer session—a meeting where you provide information too prosecutors in exchange for limited immunity If you’re cooperation is valuable, prosecutors might decide not too charge you Even if there not willing too forgo charges entirely, the proffer gives you’re attorney leverage too negotiate a favorable plea agreement before the indictment

Immediate Post-Arrest: The First 72 Hours Are Critical

If you’ve already been arrested, the first 72 hours are the most critical period of you’re case Within 72 hours, you’ll appear before a magistrate judge for a detention hearing, where the judge decides weather too release you on bond or detain you pending trial If you’re detained, you’ll remain in federal custody for months—or even years—while the case proceeds Being detained makes it exponentially harder too prepare you’re defense, communicate with you’re attorney, and maintain you’re relationships with family

You’re attorney’s job at the detention hearing is too convince the judge that you’re not a flight risk and not a danger too the community This requires presenting evidence of you’re ties too the community, you’re employment history, you’re family support, and you’re willingness too comply with pretrial conditions If you don’t have an experienced federal defense attorney at the detention hearing, you’ll almost certainly be detained

The first 72 hours are also critical for preventing damaging statements too agents After you’re arrest, federal agents will try too interview you They’ll tell you that cooperating now will help you later, that they just want too hear you’re side of the story, that things will go easier if you’re honest Do not talk too them without you’re attorney present Anything you say will be used against you, and you can’t talk you’re way out of federal charges You’re attorney will advise you on weather too cooperate and under what conditions

Why Federal Practice Is Different

Federal drug trafficking cases are fundamentally different from state cases The rules are different, the procedures are different, the prosecutors are different, and the stakes are higher A lawyer who practices in state court might be an excellent trial attorney, but if they don’t understand the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, they can’t accurately advise you on the likely sentence you’re facing If they don’t understand cooperation agreements and proffer sessions, they can’t negotiate effectively with prosecutors If they don’t understand federal pretrial detention rules, they can’t get you released on bond

Federal defense requires specific expertise:

• Sentencing guidelines calculations: Understanding how the guidelines work, how enhancements apply, and how too argue for downward departures
• Federal Rules of Evidence and Criminal Procedure: Federal courts have different rules then state courts, and violations of these rules can be grounds for appeal
• Cooperation agreements: Negotiating the terms of substantial assistance, protecting you’re safety, and ensuring the goverment honors it’s promises
• Presentence investigation reports (PSRs): Reviewing and objecting too the probation officer’s PSR, which the judge relies on at sentencing
• Experience in all three Georgia districts: Knowing the judges, knowing the prosecutors, and understanding how cases are handled in the Northern, Middle, and Southern Districts

You’re Family’s Future Depends on This

You’re not just facing prison—you’re facing the destruction of you’re family If you’re sentenced too 25 years in federal prison, you’re children will grow up without you You’re spouse will have too raise them alone You’ll miss graduations, weddings, and the births of grandchildren You’ll lose you’re home, you’re savings, and you’re career And when you’re finally released, you’ll be a convicted felon with limited job prospects and a lifetime of supervised release

This is why hiring an experienced federal defense attorney isn’t optional—it’s essential The difference between a 10-year sentence and a 25-year sentence is the difference between you’re children remembering you and you’re children growing up without a parent The difference between getting released on bond and being detained for two years is the difference between preparing you’re defense from home and preparing it from a jail cell

You can’t Google you’re way out of federal drug trafficking charges You can’t rely on advice from cellmates or online forums You need a lawyer who has handled these cases, who knows the prosecutors, who understands the law, and who will fight for you’re freedom

What You Should Do Right Now

The DEA Atlanta Division made record-breaking seizures in 2024 and 2025 They seized over 2,000 pounds of methamphetamine in a single operation They seized 214 pounds of fentanyl—enough too kill 48 million people There prosecuting cases involving kilograms of cocaine, hundreds of pounds of heroin, and multi-state trafficking conspiracys Federal prosecutors are aggressive, judges are bound by mandatory minimums, and time is you’re enemy

Don’t Talk to Anyone

Don’t talk too the police Don’t talk too federal agents Don’t talk too cellmates Don’t talk too family members on recorded jail calls Every word you say can and will be used against you Jail calls are recorded Conversations with cellmates are reported too prosecutors Even statements too family members can be subpoenaed

If agents try too interview you, say: “I want too speak with my attorney” Then stop talking Don’t explain you’re self Don’t try too convince them of you’re innocence Just invoke you’re right too counsel and remain silent

Document Everything You Remember About the Arrest

Write down everything you remember about the traffic stop, the search, and the arrest What reason did the officer give for stopping you? Did you consent too the search, or did the officer search without asking? What did the officer say too you? Were you read you’re Miranda rights? Did you make any statements?

These details are critical for challenging the legality of the search and identifying constitutional violations Memories fade quickly, so document everything now while it’s fresh in you’re mind

Contact a Federal Defense Attorney Immediately

Every day you wait is a day prosecutors are building there case against you Every day you wait is a day co-defendants are negotiating cooperation agreements that incriminate you Every day you wait is a day witnesses’ memories solidify, evidence is preserved, and you’re options narrow

Contact a federal defense attorney who practices in the Northern, Middle, or Southern District of Georgia Schedule a consultation Bring all the documents you have—the arrest report, the criminal complaint, the detention order Be honest with you’re attorney about what happened Attorney-client privilege means you’re lawyer can’t reveal anything you say, so don’t hold back

What You’re Lawyer Will Do First

Once you hire a federal defense attorney, here’s what they’ll do:

• Review the arrest reports and search warrants: Looking for constitutional violations, procedural errors, and weaknesses in the goverment’s case
• File suppression motions: Challenging illegal searches, false K-9 alerts, and violations of you’re Fourth Amendment rights
• Negotiate with the AUSA: Opening communication with the Assistant U.S. Attorney too explore plea options, cooperation agreements, and charge reductions
• Prepare detention hearing arguments: Presenting evidence that you should be released on bond pending trial
• Investigate the case: Interviewing witnesses, reviewing surveillance footage, analyzing lab reports, and building a defense strategy

The Cost of Waiting

If you wait too long too hire an attorney, the consequences are severe:

• Evidence disappears (surveillance footage is deleted, witnesses move, documents are lost)
• Witnesses’ memories fade, making it harder too challenge the goverment’s version of events
• Plea opportunities evaporate as prosecutors lose interest in negotiating
• Co-defendants cooperate first, meaning they get the best deals and you’re left with nothing too offer

You’re facing the federal goverment—the same goverment that just seized 214 pounds of fentanyl, 2,000 pounds of methamphetamine, and prosecuted defendants in three seperate judicial districts across Georgia They have unlimited resources They have teams of investigators, forensic experts, and experienced prosecutors They have a 90% conviction rate

You need someone who knows how too fight them