DOUGLAS, Ga. (WALB) — Five defendants in five separate cases were sentenced to a combined 870 months in federal prison on Oct. 7 by U.S. District Judge Lisa Godbey Wood.

According to court documents, three of the men were part of a drug trafficking conspiracy spanning Coffee, Atkinson, Ware and Bacon counties from early 2021 through the time of indictment. Most of the conspiracy were directed from inside Georgia state prisons using contraband cellphones. Investigators found 21 illegally possessed firearms.

• Christopher Hawkins, 31, of Douglas, was sentenced to 240 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release following his conviction at trial on conspiracy, cocaine and methamphetamine distribution, and firearms charges.
• Ernest Goodman, 44, of Waycross, was sentenced to 212 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He received enhanced penalties as an armed career criminal.
• Aaron Kahn, 50, of Douglas, was sentenced to 138 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy.

According to prosecutors, 33 additional defendants pleaded guilty to various drug- and gun-related charges, with 17 sentenced to terms of up to 126 months in prison. Another defendant, Marquan Jenkins, 32, was convicted at trial and awaits sentencing. One defendant died before adjudication, and one was acquitted.

Two other men were sentenced in separate cases:

• Guillermo Sanchez-Zuniga, 28, of Pearson, was sentenced to 160 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release after pleading guilty to distribution of more than 5 grams of methamphetamine between November 2024 and May 2025.
• Herlindo Perez-Barajas, 50, living in Waycross, was sentenced to 120 months in prison followed by immediate deportation after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine found during an October 2024 traffic stop by Georgia State Patrol.

The cases were investigated by the FBI, ATF, DEA, Georgia State Patrol, GBI and multiple local sheriff’s offices and police departments.

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