Defendants Sentenced to Prison in Separate Armed Meth Trafficking Investigations in Southwest Georgia

ALBANY, Ga. - Two Albany residents with prior felony convictions were sentenced to federal prison this week in separate cases resulting from investigations into armed methamphetamine trafficking in Southwest Georgia.

Wallace Eric Strickland, 40, of Albany, was sentenced to serve 286 months in prison to be followed by ten years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Louis Sands on Nov. 21 after he previously pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in Case No. 1:23-CR-23-002 on Aug. 28.

Tanaka Grant aka "Knock-Off," 39, of Albany, was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release by Chief U.S. District Judge Leslie Abrams Gardner on Nov. 22 after he previously pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of methamphetamine in Case No. 1:22-CR-40-001 on May 15.

There is no parole in the federal system.

"Armed methamphetamine trafficking endangers the communities we serve and will not be tolerated by our office," said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. "Both cases exemplify the interagency cooperation between law enforcement at every level focused on holding the most dangerous individuals accountable for their crimes and making our communities safer."

"Wallace Strickland is clearly a dangerous individual," said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. "Not only did he distribute illegal drugs while in possession of guns, but he advised a co-conspirator to continue to distribute methamphetamine on his behalf while he was in prison."

"The illegal possession of firearms by convicted felons poses a significant threat to our communities, and we will continue to work tirelessly to remove these dangerous individuals from our streets," said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka.

"These sentences send a clear message that methamphetamine trafficking has no place in our communities," said GBI Director Chris Hosey. "The GBI remains committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to hold those who endanger the public accountable, ensuring that criminals like Strickland and Grant face the full consequences of their actions."

According to court documents and statements made in court in the Strickland case, on Feb. 24, 2022, Americus Police Department (APD) officers initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle and encountered Strickland and co-defendant Ryan Farr. Officers found a loaded .380 caliber pistol, a .32 caliber revolver, 153 grams of 94% pure methamphetamine and quantities of other illegal controlled substances during a search of the car. After Strickland's arrest, he was recorded on jail calls instructing co-defendant Aryn Brittany Jones to destroy evidence from his Facebook account and discussing how the methamphetamine was obtained from a Mexican drug cartel near Atlanta. Search warrants executed on Strickland's and Farr's cell phones detailed extensive communications of a larger conspiracy involving the distribution of methamphetamine, revealing defendant Strickland and Jones had obtained a half kilogram of methamphetamine from the Mexican source of supply for redistribution just days before Strickland's arrest when officers found him in possession of methamphetamine on Feb. 24, 2022.

After Strickland was sent back to prison on a Georgia parole violation for another methamphetamine distribution conviction, law enforcement recovered a cell phone from a Georgia state prison inmate which revealed that Strickland continued to engage in the distribution of methamphetamine and other narcotics sourced by a Mexican drug cartel from behind bars. Strickland has a lengthy criminal history, including convictions for felony obstruction of a law enforcement officer in Worth County, Georgia, Superior Court and felony methamphetamine distribution in Dougherty County, Georgia, Superior Court. Strickland is also a validated member of the Gangster Disciples criminal organization.

One of Strickland's co-defendants pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing:

Niki Lynn Crabtree-Booth, 31, of Albany, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on March 21, 2024, and is scheduled for sentencing on Dec. 19, 2024.

Two of Strickland's co-defendants pleaded guilty and have been sentenced:

Aryn Brittany Jones, 31, of Leesburg, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release on May 22 after she previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Dec. 12, 2023; and

Ryan Daniel Farr, 33, of Leesburg, was sentenced to serve 70 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on June 27 after he previously pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice on March 20.

According to court documents and statements made in court in the Grant case, agents investigating armed drug trafficking in the Southwest Georgia community used a confidential informant (CI) while under surveillance to purchase a total of approximately 100 grams of methamphetamine from Grant on two separate occasions in May and July 2022. Agents ultimately arrested Grant at the Araamda Inn in Albany on April 18, 2023. Grant was concealing a fully loaded Glock 19 handgun with an extended magazine in his waistband; he was also carrying quantities of illegal drugs, a digital scale and a box of plastic bags. Grant has several prior felony drug convictions in the Superior Court of Dougherty County, Georgia, as well as a prior burglary conviction.

The Strickland case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI) and the Americus Police Department (APD) with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Redavid prosecuted the case for the Government.

The Grant case was investigated by DEA and GBI with assistance from ATF. Assistant U.S. Attorney Veronica Hansis prosecuted the case for the Government.

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