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A 'one-man crime wave' | Southwest Ga. man gets 30 years in prison

Cary Smith continued to deal in drugs even after he'd been arrested multiple times.
Cary Brandon Smith

ALBANY, Ga. -- A southwest Georgia man who prosecutors described as a one-man crime wave has been sentenced to 360 months in jail after being convicted on multiple drug and weapon charges.

“Cary Smith has been a one-man crime wave in south Georgia for several years, manufacturing and selling methamphetamine and other drugs despite numerous arrests and convictions for doing so," said U.S. Attorney Charles Peeler. "In addition, he committed these crimes while armed, knowing that he was prohibited from possessing firearms because of these previous convictions.

"Smith earned and deserves the harsh sentence he received, as he has proven beyond any doubt that incarceration is the only way to stop him from ravaging our community through the illegal manufacture and sale of methamphetamine and other highly addictive and destructive drugs.”

Grady County deputies traveled to Cairo on March 19, 2015, in search of a wanted person. They saw Smith running away from the residence and into woods. Agents found a meth lab on the scene.

Smith remained at large until Sept. 2, 2015, when he was arrested after a foot chase. Police found another meth lab, along with the drug itself and two firearms, one of which had been stolen in an earlier burglary.

Smith admitted he manufactured and sold meth, and also admitted he knew one of the guns recovered was stolen. Smith had already been convicted on earlier drug charges.

While awaiting trial, Smith continued dealing in meth and other illegal drugs, as well as possessing guns. On June 21, 2017, agents executed a search warrant at his address in Cairo, where they discovered two handguns, methamphetamine, other illegal drugs and documents identifying Smith.

On June 23, 2017, officers arrested Smith during a traffic stop and found marijuana and meth components. Smith admitted that the marijuana was his. He also described obtaining large quantities of meth in Moultrie and having traveled to Atlanta to meet with the sources of supply.

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