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TIFT COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) - A Tifton man has been sentenced to 13 years in prison for involvement in a drug trafficking ring from prison.

According to the Department of Justice, 38-year-old Juan Carlos Popoca was sentenced to serve 165 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release.

The drug ring Popoca was a part of distributed 180 kilos of Meth, 60 kilos of Cocaine, 1300 pounds of Marijuana

Popoca pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Popoca’s co-conspirators all pleaded guilty and were sentenced to prison.

34-year-old Haley Maria Sumner of Tifton was sentenced to serve 78 months in prison.

54-year-old Jerri Jo Austin of Tifton was sentenced to serve 36 months.

31-year-old Susan Nichole Lopez of Tifton was sentenced to serve 30 months.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Hosey released a statement after this sentencing,

“Even from behind bars, criminal activity will not go unchecked. This investigation reflects the strength of collaboration between our agents and local partners to identify, disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking operations. The GBI remains committed to protecting Georgia communities by holding offenders accountable at every level.”

The Department of Justice says court documents say the GBI received information in 2021 that Austin was distributing meth in Tift County.

During the investigation, agents learned Popoca, Sumner and Lopez were working with Austin to distribute the drugs. They also learned Popoca was an inmate at a Georgia prison.

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