A Gwinnett County man prosecutors say ran a fentanyl and meth distribution ring under the brand "Capone, Inc." has been ordered to spend 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to charges tied to multiple overdose deaths. David "Capone" Shane Lancaster, 47, will also serve 10 years of probation after he gets out. Prosecutors say the plea deal wraps up counts that included involuntary manslaughter and a violation of Georgia's racketeering law.
According to FOX 5 Atlanta, Lancaster pleaded guilty to violating Georgia's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of selling fentanyl and three counts of possession of a Schedule II controlled substance. The court responded with a 30-year prison term, followed by 10 years of probation.
Prosecutors connected drugs sold by Lancaster to the deaths of 25-year-old Eldin Mehmedovic, who died May 23, 2023, and Sean Robert Wignall, who died in early January 2024, reporting from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution shows. Those fatalities were at the center of a months-long investigation that eventually led to Lancaster's arrest last year.
How prosecutors built the case
Investigators say they used Lancaster's phone records to track drug transactions between May 2023 and March 2024 and that he operated under the "Capone, Inc." name, according to FOX 5 Atlanta. District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson put it bluntly, saying, "People are dying from these drugs, and we are going to ensure that those who keep dealing face serious consequences."
When officers arrested Lancaster, Gwinnett deputies reported finding methamphetamine, a digital scale and a firearm in his belongings, evidence that became part of the case against him, as WSB-TV reported.
What this means for Gwinnett
The sentence lands amid a broader push by Gwinnett prosecutors and police to go after suppliers whose products are tied to deadly overdoses. Local reporting has documented an increase in fentanyl-related arrests even as overdose numbers move up and down. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has detailed the department's stepped-up enforcement and shifting charging strategies as officials look for ways to curb fatal overdoses.
Lancaster was sentenced on April 9, 2026, and remains in custody as he awaits transfer to a state facility. Prosecutors say the case is part of ongoing efforts to disrupt local supply lines and prevent more overdose deaths.
