VALDOSTA, Ga. — Six people, most of them from Tifton and Adel, were recently sentenced in a far-reaching conspiracy to distribute cocaine, United States Attorney Charles E. Peeler announced. While none of the defendants were from Colquitt County, their illegal activities took place here as well as elsewhere in the region, Peeler said.

Those individuals and their respective sentences include:

• Ivan Starks, 47, of Ocala, Fla.: 188 months.

• Ozell Lane Jr., 39, of Adel, Ga.: 96 months.

• Marvin Dumas, 52, of Tifton, Ga.: 78 months.

• Willis Lee Young, 41, of Adel: 57 months.

• Adrian Lloyd, 42, of Tifton: 57 months.

• Chris Waters, 50, of Tifton: 48 months.

The sentences were handed down by Senior U.S. District Judge Hugh Lawson Nov. 29 in Valdosta. There is no parole in the federal system.

From Jan. 1, 2013, through Dec. 10, 2014, the defendants acquired kilogram quantities of cocaine ultimately distributed throughout Cook, Colquitt and Tift counties, Peeler said. Between Aug. 29, 2014, and Sept. 28, 2014, intercepted communications revealed the defendants along with other members of the conspiracy participated in the acquisition and further distribution of between 10 to 15 kilograms of cocaine per week.

On Sept. 25, 2014, a traffic stop of conspirators Jose Martinez, Jessica Tellez, and Juan Sanchez Hidalgo resulted in the seizure of $225,937 of drug money en route to Juan Pablo Cuevas, Peeler said. Search warrants executed that same date on residences of Maurice Todd Carter, James Waters, and other defendants resulted in the seizure of an additional approximately $50,000, three kilograms of cocaine and 11 firearms.

The six defendants sentenced last week are the latest to be sentenced in this far-reaching conspiracy, Peeler said. Twelve other defendants have already been sentenced for their role in the ongoing illegal drug enterprise.

“The outstanding cooperation between federal, state and local law enforcement in this investigation has brought about the dismantling of a very significant drug distribution enterprise, which was a major supplier of illicit drugs in the South Georgia area,” Peeler said. “The work of the investigators and prosecutors on this matter have made our communities in this area safer places to live.”

“Numerous communities in middle Georgia can sleep better tonight knowing that this far-reaching cocaine trafficking organization has been dismantled,” said Daniel R. Salter, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “This case demonstrates how DEA and its local, state and federal law enforcement partners form a united front to disrupt, dismantle and destroy drug trafficking organizations.”

“These convictions demonstrate the great work of law enforcement at all levels to investigate and prosecute the distribution of narcotics affecting Georgia and our surrounding states. The GBI remains committed to working with our local and federal partners in drug enforcement to address these types of crimes and make our communities safer,” commented Special Agent in Charge Kim Baker of the GBI Region 15 Field Office.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Mid-South Narcotics Task Force, and the Tift, Crisp, Cook, and Colquitt county sheriff’s offices. Assistant United States Attorney Julia Bowen is handling the prosecution for the government.

Inquiries regarding the case should be directed to Pamela Lightsey at the United States Attorney’s Office at 478-752-3511.