Richard S. Moultrie, Jr. Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia
Deaja Simone Clemons has been sentenced to federal prison for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute fentanyl. The case highlights the ongoing battle against drug trafficking in Georgia.
Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr., stated, “Clemons sold thousands of fentanyl pills at a time that the illegal distribution and use of this drug was continuing to ravage communities within and outside our district.” He expressed gratitude for the collaboration among law enforcement agencies that helped address threats posed by traffickers like Clemons.
Jae W. Chung, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division, emphasized the destructive impact of drugs like fentanyl, stating, “Illicit drugs like fentanyl have destroyed countless lives. Keeping our communities safe is our highest priority.”
In February 2024, DEA’s Rome Field Office began investigating Clemons' activities in the Rome area after receiving information about her involvement in fentanyl distribution. During that month, Clemons reportedly sold 121 counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl in Rome and Cedartown, Georgia.
In April 2024, following surveillance efforts by DEA agents and Polk County police officers, Clemons was stopped en route from Polk County back to Rome. A search of her vehicle led to the discovery of 124 counterfeit "M30" pills containing fentanyl and $3,922 in cash. It was later found that she had been selling approximately 300 fentanyl pills weekly over three months.
United States District Judge William M. Ray II sentenced Clemons to 63 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release after she pleaded guilty on December 13, 2024.
The investigation involved several agencies including the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Atlanta-Carolinas High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (AC-HIDTA), and Polk County Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Thomas M. Forsyth III and Calvin A. Leipold III prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strategic Initiative focused on combatting the fentanyl crisis in northwest Georgia using a prosecutor-led approach.
For those with information about drug trafficking activities in their area, reports can be made through GBI at 1-800-597-TIPS or DEA’s Atlanta Division Office at (404) 893-7000.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office encourages education on drug dangers through resources available at various websites such as www.justthinktwice.gov and www.dea.gov/onepill.
For further inquiries contact U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office via email or phone provided above.
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