Albany residents plead guilty to drug trafficking charges

ALBANY – Two Albany residents, both with lengthy criminal histories in the community, pleaded guilty to federal charges resulting from separate drug trafficking investigations in southwest Georgia.

Roderick Terrell Ferrell, 37, and Kerry Lamont Davis, 42, each pleaded guilty in separate cases to one count of distribution of cocaine before U.S. District Judge Leslie Gardner. Due to their criminal histories, both Ferrell and Davis qualify as federal career offenders and each faces a maximum of 30 years in prison to be followed by six years of supervised release and a maximum $2 million fine. Sentencing hearings will be scheduled by the court. There is no parole in the federal system.

“Both defendants have lengthy criminal records and have repeatedly disregarded the law,” U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “These cases demonstrate how federal, state and local law enforcement are working together to make our communities safer and hold career offenders accountable.”

“The FBI is proud to work with our local law enforcement partners in helping to convict these repeat offenders at the federal level, where they face stiffer penalties and no opportunity for parole,” Rich Bilson, supervisory senior resident agent of FBI Atlanta’s Albany office, said.

“Eliminating drug trafficking in our communities requires a united front,” GBI Director Chris Hosey said. “The successful convictions of these repeat offenders are a demonstration of the effectiveness of our collaboration across federal, state and local agencies to hold individuals accountable and ensure safer neighborhoods.”

According to court documents and statements made public in court in the Ferrell case, federal, state and local law enforcement received information from various confidential sources that Terrell was distributing cocaine and was supplied by a metro Atlanta unnamed co-conspirator. Due to COVID-19’s impact on drug supply at the time, Ferrell was charging $1,400 an ounce for powder cocaine.

Law enforcement executed a search warrant at another dealer’s residence, seized cocaine, and discovered that Ferrell had sold at least 18 ounces of powder cocaine. Agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation then conducted a controlled buy from Ferrell on Nov. 8, 2021, during which Ferrell sold two ounces of powder cocaine for $2,150. In addition, Ferrell reported that he had been pulled over by local law enforcement on Oct. 13, 2022, and was in possession at the time of $30,000 from a recent drug transaction.

On Nov. 30, 2023, a patrol officer pulled Ferrell over and found 10 pounds of marijuana in 10 plastic vacuum-sealed bags in the rear cargo area of his vehicle. Ferrell said he was transporting the drugs to Camilla.

During the investigation, agents discovered that Ferrell filed only one tax return between tax years 2019 and 2023, in which he claimed a negative income in 2022. DEA conducted a concealment money laundering investigation to look at how Ferrell was dispersing his drug trafficking money. Agents found that between August 2021 and December 2023, Terrell received and moved $383,057 through his and his co-conspirators’ CashApp accounts and bank accounts, despite having no employment or declaring any income on his taxes. Credit card and bank statements also showed that Terrell and his girlfriend used drug proceeds to purchase luxury goods from Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton, Saks, Gucci and Balenciaga, as well as took luxury vacations and invested in a business that was never operational.

Terrell also has several prior felony convictions, including robbery by force, terroristic threats and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute in Dougherty County Superior Court.

According to court documents and statements made public in court in the Davis case, Albany Police Department officers responded to Ridgemont Road in Albany on March 26, 2023, about a suspicious auto parked in the middle of the road. Officers found Davis asleep in the driver’s seat. After Davis handed the officers his driver’s license, he fled at a high rate of speed and crashed his car. He then attempted to run away but was quickly apprehended.

Inside the car, APD officers found a semiautomatic pistol, a semiautomatic rifle, a revolver, nearly four kilograms of vacuumed sealed marijuana, a distributable quantity of ecstasy and cocaine, a digital scale, plastic baggies and $25,039. Davis has two prior felony convictions for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute in Dougherty County Superior Court.

The Ferrell case was investigated by the DEA, FBI and GBI. The Davis case was investigated by the ATF and APD. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Redavid prosecuted the cases for the government.

Special Illustration: Metro Creative