Sentence enhancement sought in Albany drug trafficking case

ALBANY — Charles Peeler, the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, said his office is seeking a sentence enhancement for an Albany man due to a prior conviction.

Peeler said a grand jury in Macon had previously returned an indictment against Michael O’Neal Walker — also known as Kevin Omar Foster, Kevin Nunyi Lewis, Mosiah Omar Wright and Nunyi Jacob Wright — alleging that in November Walker was in possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute it and a firearm, a pink SCCY 9 mm handgun, in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities.

Peeler said, based on sentence enhancement information filed in Walker’s case because of a prior conviction, the marijuana charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $500,000. The gun charge carries a minimum mandatory term of imprisonment for five years, and a maximum possible term of imprisonment for life and maximum fine of $250,000.

An indictment is an allegation of criminal conduct. Peeler said all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt.

Peeler said the case was investigated by agents with the Albany-Dougherty County Drug Unit and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Leah McEwen.