Larry Stanford
Editor
On Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2011, more than 90 officers from 12 law enforcement agencies joined forces to conduct a sweep of methamphetamine (meth) dealers and users through Upson and surrounding counties. More than 140 warrants were served on 68 to 72 individuals, with 47 being arrested on charges of either conspiracy to traffic meth or conspiracy to possess meth, and use of a communication facility in committing an act of felony. Thirty-eight of those arrested were from Upson County.
Fifteen months later, on January 16, 2013, the main supplier for Thomaston, Brian Michael Kilby, was sentenced in federal court to 90 months to serve in federal prison and five years of probation. Ruben Hernandez of DeKalb County, one of two individuals found to be the suppliers for Kilby, was sentenced the same day to 80 months in federal prison and five years probation.
The sentencing of Kilby and Hernandez were the latest in the drug investigation, which the Thomaston Police Department and Upson County Sheriff’s Office began in January 2011 following complaints about Kilby. The investigation found that Kilby was bringing one to two pounds of meth a month and distributing it to a network of dealers and users.
Eight other suspects were sentenced on Nov. 29, 2012. They include Carlos Espinoza, Hernandez’s partner in supplying Kilby with meth. Other sentences handed down are Phillip Harley with 90 months to serve in prison and three years probation, Casey Brooks with 42 months to serve and five years probation, Richard Griffin with 40 months to serve and three years probation, Jerry Bradshaw with 37 months in prison and three years of probation, Rodney McDaniel with 34 months to serve and three years probation, John Wagner with 8 months to serve and 12 months probation, and Timothy Huff with three years probation and a $2,000 fine.
State charges are still pending on the other suspects arrested during the raid.
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