Tifton man sentenced in drug conspiracy connected to woman’s death
Sentence of Tifton man connected to drug overdose death in 2015
A Columbus resident with a violent criminal history was convicted by a federal jury on charges related to armed methamphetamine trafficking.
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Staff Reports
TIFTON — A Tifton man was recently sentenced in connection to a drug distribution conspiracy involving 21 participants, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia Charlie Peeler said.
Peeler said Thursday that U.S. District Judge Leslie J. Abrams sentenced Bobby Earl Grantham, 49, to 150 months in prison for the offense of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Grantham pled guilty on March 1 of last year, after the distribution ring broken down in August of 2015.
During two occasions in the summer of 2015, a confidential source purchased heroin at the residence of Jimmy Barrentine. Grantham sold the heroin on one occasion, and at the other, Barrentine sold the heroin. On July 16 of that year, Tift County 911 received a dispatch to the residence and Sonya Tolar was found dead inside Grantham’s bedroom of Barrentine’s home.
Toxicology from Tolar’s autopsy noted evidence of heroin, and the medical examiner listed the cause of death as heroin toxicity. Examination of Tolar’s cell phone showed, that a few hours before the 911 call, Grantham texted a photo of the heroin to Tolar to entice her to visit him. She traveled to the residence, where she later died.
Peeler said Grantham’s sentence was enhanced base on obstruction. At his sentencing, evidence was revealed that he waited over 30 minutes to call 911 after discovering Tolar had overdosed, spending the interim period removing evidence so he would not be discovered by authorities.
“Opioid distribution has been declared a national epidemic,” Peeler said. “Federal law carries stiff penalties for those who distribute drugs where death or serious bodily injury occurs. I hope that this sentence makes it clear that we do not tolerate the harm that this behavior causes in this district and that we are committed to doing all within our power to address and combat this epidemic.
“Mr. Grantham’s obstructive actions cannot be condoned. Ms. Tolar’s life might have been saved if he had valued her life more than his freedom. This lengthy sentence is richly deserved.”
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration Macon Division, Georgia Bureau of Investigation office in Sylvester, Ben Hill County Sheriff’s Office, Tift County Sheriff’s Office and the Mid South Narcotics Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leah McEwen prosecuted the case for the federal government.
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