A man from Macon has been sentenced to over nine years in federal prison for distributing fentanyl, among other narcotics, in Central Georgia. Gary Hollingshed, aged 31, was given a 110-month prison term on Tuesday to be followed by three years of supervised release, without the possibility of parole, according to a U.S. Department of Justice statement.
"Fentanyl kills, and traffickers of this lethal narcotic will face federal prosecution in the Middle District of Georgia," said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary in the statement. Hollingshed's case exhibits the resolve of law enforcement to curtail the flow of illegal drugs, his prior convictions include burglary, and illegal drug possession and distribution. Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division, emphasized the detrimental impact of drug traffickers on communities, insisting that such individuals drive addiction and community destruction.
The investigation into Hollingshed began after agencies suspected him of pushing drugs in Macon using a confidential source and surveillance. Law enforcement made the first of their controlled purchases on February 10, 2022, in a Macon hotel parking lot, where they obtained roughly 83.9 grams of 98% pure methamphetamine. A second operation on February 16 at a local store in Macon resulted in the purchase of what Hollingshed claimed was heroin but was later identified as a mixture including fentanyl, plus an additional 140.1 grams of methamphetamine.
On March 9, 2022, Hollingshed was arrested in Monroe County following a trip to the Atlanta area, as stated by the Department of Justice. During a traffic stop for a broken taillight on I-75, deputies noted the smell of marijuana and discovered three preschool-aged children in the vehicle, along with substantial drug quantities. Following this, a further search on March 15 at Hollingsworth’s supplier’s residence uncovered more drugs and several firearms.
The Bibb County Sheriff's Office, along with the DEA and Monroe County Sheriff's Office collaborated on this investigation, leading to Hollingshed’s conviction. Bibb County Sheriff David Davis hailed the outcome, noting the effort and perseverance that went into ensuring the case's conclusion.
