TIFTON, Ga. (WTXL) - A drug dealer is going to federal prison for 12 years after selling heroin to a woman who was later found dead in his room.
Charles E. Peeler, a U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, announced the sentencing of Bobby Earl Grantham Jr., 49, on Thursday.
Grantham was sentenced to 150 months in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.
He pled guilty to the offense in March 2017.
Investigators said the drug ring lasted from Oct. 2016 to August 2015 and involved a total of 21, all of whom have been convicted.
They say that on July 16, 2915, Tift County 911 received a call to the home of Jimmy Barrentine, who they say lived together with Grantham and sold heroin with him as well.
When authorities arrived, they found Sonya Tolar dead inside Grantham's bedroom. An autospy revealed that Tolar had died from a heroin overdose.
After looking through Tolar's phone, they discovered that Grantham had texted her a picture of heroin to entice her to visit him. Shortly after getting the text, she went over to the men's house, where she died.
Officials say Grantham's sentence was enhanced due to him obstructing evidence from authorities.
They say court evidence revealed that after Grantham discovered that Tolar had overdosed, he waited over 30 minutes to call 911. Evidence shows he and others spent the time removing evidence from the scene before authorities could discover it.
"Federal law carries stiff penalties for those who distribute drugs where death or serious bodily injury occurs," said U.S. attorney Peeler. "I hope that this sentence makes it clear that we do not tolerate the harm that this behavior causes in this district and that we are committed to doing all within our power to address and combat this epidemic."
