Five More Defendants Sentenced to Prison for Roles in Methamphetamine Trafficking Organization

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Five defendants were sentenced today for their roles in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) responsible for distributing large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl in the Southern District of West Virginia.<_o3a_p>

Hakeem Rashad Mack, also known as "Paper," 31, of Detroit, Michigan, was sentenced to ten years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.<_o3a_p>

Gary Diaz, also known as "Poppy," 66, of Nitro, was sentenced to fifteen years and nine months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.<_o3a_p>

Georgia Alice Jackson, 32, of Huntington, was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, for possession with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.<_o3a_p>

Jashawn William Lawson, also known as "Nitty," 23, of Detroit, Michigan, was sentenced to seven years and three months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for aiding and abetting possession with the intent to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine.<_o3a_p>

Shakur Raekwan Joyce, also known as "Cheeta," 24, of Huntington, was sentenced to three years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute a quantity of methamphetamine.<_o3a_p>

The five defendants are among 27 individuals indicted in a 53-count indictment that charges the defendants with distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl transported from Detroit, Michigan, in Huntington and other locations within the Southern District of West Virginia.<_o3a_p>

According to court documents and statements made in court, Mack admitted that he distributed approximately 283 grams of methamphetamine at his residence to a confidential informant on June 28, 2023. Mack arranged the transaction beforehand with the informant via a video call with the FaceTime mobile device app. Mack further admitted to distributing a total of approximately 306 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant on May 10, 2023 and June 5, 2023.<_o3a_p>

Diaz participated in the DTO from approximately November 2022 through November 2023, receiving a total of at least 30 pounds of methamphetamine for distribution during this period. Diaz commonly obtained the methamphetamine on consignment, paying for it after it was distributed. Diaz received at least 1 pound and as much as 2 pounds at a time during the final six months of his participation in the conspiracy.<_o3a_p>

Participating in the DTO from at least February 2023 through November 2023, Jackson distributed methamphetamine and fentanyl on numerous occasions and used her residence to store and distribute drugs.<_o3a_p>

Lawson participated in the DTO from at least April 2023 through November 2023. Lawson's participation included selling a total of approximately 808.6 grams of methamphetamine on three occasions between April 13, 2023 and July 13, 2023. Lawson also sold approximately 2.9 grams of fentanyl during the July 13, 2023 transaction.<_o3a_p>

Joyce participated in the DTO from at least August 2023 to in and around November 2023. Joyce transported methamphetamine and collected and transported drug proceeds on behalf of other individuals, and received methamphetamine that he distributed to various customers. Joyce possessed approximately 877 grams of methamphetamine seized by law enforcement officers during a September 20, 2023 traffic stop of a vehicle in which he was traveling on I-64 in Hurricane.<_o3a_p>

On November 15, 2023, law enforcement officers arrested all five defendants and executed search warrants at multiple residences. At Mack's residence, officers seized approximately 165 grams of methamphetamine, 108 grams of fentanyl and a Charter Arms .38-caliber revolver, and multiple bags of methamphetamine and a loaded Diamondback DB 9mm pistol. At Jackson's residence, officers seized approximately 380 grams of fentanyl, a Phoenix Arms HP22A .22-caliber pistol, a Sun City Stevens 320 12-gauge shotgun and various rounds of ammunition. At Lawson's residence, officers seized quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl, a Landor Arms Canyon Arms 12-gauge shotgun, a Walther P22 .22-caliber pistol equipped with a silencer, a Kel-Tec PMR-30 .22-caliber pistol and various rounds of ammunition. Joyce consented to a search of his residence where officers seized a quantity of methamphetamine. <_o3a_p>

Mack, Diaz, Jackson, Lawson and Joyce are also among 21 defendants who have pleaded guilty in the main case. One other of the 27 indicted individuals pleaded guilty to a related offense in a separate case. The indictment against the remaining defendants is pending. An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.<_o3a_p>

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Cabell County Sheriff's Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the West Virginia State Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. MDENT is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff's Office, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department.<_o3a_p>

United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentences. Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph F. Adams and Stephanie Taylor prosecuted the case.<_o3a_p>

The investigation was part of the Department of Justice's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice's drug reduction strategy. OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.<_o3a_p>

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-180.<_o3a_p>