Elderly Americus man pleads guilty to drug distribution

AMERICUS — A 78-year-old Americus man pleaded guilty on Monday to distributing Xanax from his home last year.

United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia Charles Peeler said the guilty plea from Edward Lowell, 78, occurred before Senior U.S. District Judge W. Louis Sands in Albany. The plea, Peeler said, will subject Powell to a maximum sentence of 10 years of imprisonment, a maximum fine of $250,000, or both.

The U.S. Attorney said Lowell admitted in his plea, that on Oct. 4, 2017, deputies were conducting surveillance of his residence in Sumter County and observed a confidential informant at the residence. The informant revealed to agents that she routinely received prescription pills from “Eddie” at his home.

A later traffic stop and search of the informant revealed 10 Xanax pills that she confirmed she had just acquired from Lowell. In an interview, she estimated she had received 8,000 pills over the years, Peeler said.

Another informant turned over 61 pills, including eight Xanax and 53 amphetamine/dextroamphetamine she had recently purchased from Lowell at the same residence for $150. She stated she had been obtaining pills from him for approximately 10 years and estimated she had gotten at least 10,000 pills over time.

The case was investigated by the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leah E. McEwen is prosecuting the case for the federal government.