Digging Deeper: Drugs got past MCLB checkpoint - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

Digging Deeper: Drugs got past MCLB checkpoint

Posted: Updated:
NCIS Kevin Dodds NCIS Kevin Dodds
D. A. Greg Edwards D. A. Greg Edwards
U. S. Attorney Michael Moore U. S. Attorney Michael Moore

  • More WALB News10 HeadlinesMore News Headlines

  • Thursday, May 23 2013 4:17 PM EDT2013-05-23 20:17:43 GMT
    In 2007, Phoebe Sumter Medical Center was in the same situation Moore Medical in Oklahoma is in now. Phoebe Sumter is taking up funds and signing a banner to send to Moore, Oklahoma Medical next week.
    In 2007, Phoebe Sumter Medical Center was in the same situation Moore Medical in Oklahoma is in now. Phoebe Sumter is taking up funds and signing a banner to send to Moore, Oklahoma Medical next week.

  • Thursday, May 23 2013 3:54 PM EDT2013-05-23 19:54:34 GMT
    A Dougherty County rape crisis center hopes to raise $15,000 at a tasty event Thursday night at the Merry Acres Event Center. The Lily Pad Center provides support services to more than 300 child victims
     The Lily Pad Center provides support services to more than 300 child victims and roughly 150 adults every year. About two hundred people are expected to show up for the fourth annual 'Farm to Fork' Fundraiser.

  • Thursday, May 23 2013 2:33 PM EDT2013-05-23 18:33:20 GMT
    Three Albany men, charged with beating a man in a bar parking lot so viciously they fractured his skull. are found guilty of different levels of involvement in their trial. After three hours of deliberation
    A guilty verdict after three hours of deliberation, as three Albany men are found guilty of different levels of involvement in their aggravated assault trial.
    •   

Eight people are charged with conspiring to distribute illegal narcotics at Albany's Marine Corp Logistics Base.

Five civilians who work at the Maintenance and Distribution Management Centers were arrested Wednesday.

So were three former contract employees. They're accused of selling prescription pills and crack cocaine on the base.

Base employees were shocked when law officers showed up to handcuff some of their co-workers. It was all part of a two and a half year long investigation into drug activity at MCLB-Albany.

"At the end of the day we'll catch them if they continue to bring illegal drugs on to this installation," said MCLB C. O. Colonel Terry Williams. 

Agents couldn't go into too much detail about how the suspects were caught because it's an ongoing investigation, but base officials did say they routinely inspect vehicles entering the base.

"We do check cars, we check vehicles, and we check persons, but I would just say as anywhere people are creative and they use creative means," said Williams.

We learned a little more about the eight employees named in the indictment. Willie Watts is a civil service employee, Jonathan Webb, Roy Shine, Michael Teemer, and Nathaniel Swan Sr. are all term employees, meaning temporary employees at the base.

Bryan Santos, Akeem Daniel, and Leon Winsberry are all former base contractors. The U.S. Attorney says it's unique to find agencies like NCIS, the GBI, the Albany-Dougherty Drug Unit and other local law enforcement all working together.

"Here you really have a unique blend of agencies and individual officers that have spent a great deal and an extraordinary amount of time and effort to protect the integrity of this installation," said U. S. Attorney Michael Moore.

While some of the drug activity was done on base, investigators say a lot occurred in the community.

Some of the vents were in the community and that is where again state officials state officials have been involved in that particular process," said Dougherty D. A. Greg Edwards.

In the end, base officials say this type of activity simply won't be tolerated, and those indicted in this case will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. 

Seven of the suspects made their first court appearances before a federal judge. Three of the suspects represented by attorneys entered not guilty pleas.

 

Copyright 2011 WALB.  All rights reserved.