Last defendant sentenced in major Middle Georgia drug investigation
Federal prosecutors say the case targeted a multi-year drug trafficking network operating in the Milledgeville area.
MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — The final defendant in a large-scale drug trafficking case centered in Milledgeville has been sentenced, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia.
Federal prosecutors say 37-year-old Noe Canela of Lilburn was sentenced Thursday to 260 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances in January.
“Noe Canela evaded justice while maintaining his criminal enterprises and ties to a Mexican cartel,” Baldwin County Sheriff Bill Massee said. “We are grateful he has been taken into custody, brought before the court and held accountable for his crimes. Baldwin County and Georgia are safer as a result.”
According to the release, Canela was identified as a major supplier in a drug trafficking operation that distributed methamphetamine and heroin in the Milledgeville area. Investigators say he supplied large quantities of drugs to a local trafficking organization led by another defendant.
The release says the case involved a multi-agency investigation that began in 2020 and targeted a network operating out of “trap” and “stash” houses.
Court documents show law enforcement seized significant amounts of drugs during the investigation, including about 30 kilograms of methamphetamine, more than 2,000 grams of heroin and multiple pounds of marijuana.
Prosecutors say Canela remained a fugitive until his arrest by the U.S. Marshals Service in August 2025.
The case included 20 defendants, most of whom are from Middle Georgia and have now been sentenced, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office:
Jarvis Havior, aka “J Bo,” 34, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 360 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on July 13, 2023, after he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on February. 16, 2023;
Nicholas Cuevas-Flores, 40, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 260 months in prison to be followed by two years of supervised release on July 13, 2023, after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances on February 28, 2023;
Anrico Taylor, aka “Rico,” 38, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 160 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on July 11, 2023, after he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on February 28, 2023;
Matthew Cameron, 50, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 150 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release on Oct. 31, 2023, after he pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on October 5, 2022;
Dawn Carey, 50, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 121 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on April 6, 2023, after she pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine on October 13, 2022;
Bruce Harrison, 43, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release on Nov. 2, 2022, after he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on August 31, 2022;
Arturo Marshall, aka “Turo,” 44, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 100 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on July 13, 2023, after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances on February 28, 2023;
Tyrone Hitchcock, aka “TY,” 51, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 85 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on Jan. 4, 2023, after he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on October 12, 2022;
Paul Collins, 63, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 57 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on June 18, 2024, after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances on February 28, 2023;
Annie Collins, 24, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 63 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on July 13, 2023, after she pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on March 7, 2023;
Paul Bentley aka “Old School,” 59, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 60 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on Aug. 6, 2025, after he pleaded guilty to one count conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on February 20, 2025;
Alicia Nugent, 41, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 60 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on July 13, 2023, after she pleaded guilty to one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on February 28, 2023;
Lamont Jackson, 51, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 48 months in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release on July 13, 2023, after he pleaded guilty to one count of the unlawful use of a communication facility on February 28, 2023;
Perry Miller, 43, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 48 months in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release on July 13, 2023, after he pleaded guilty to the unlawful use of a communications facility on February 28, 2023;
Dwight Turner, aka “Wight,” 60, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 48 months in prison to be followed by two years of supervised release on Jan. 11, 2024, after he pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of methamphetamine on August 30, 2023;
Ryan Rickard, 53, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 41 months in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release on Feb. 14, 2024, after he pleaded guilty to one count of the unlawful use of a communication facility on February 16, 2023;
Amber Vanclief, 35, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 15 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on May 3, 2023, after she pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on February 9, 2023;
Macarthur Reeves, aka “Mac,” 70, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve three years of probation on May 3, 2023, after he pleaded guilty to one count of the unlawful use of a communications facility on February 16, 2023;
Paris Binion, 32, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to time served to be followed by one year of supervised release on Nov. 9, 2023, after she pleaded guilty to one count of the unlawful use of a communications facility on February 28, 2023.
