GADSDEN COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) — We’re learning more about the drug bust in Gadsden County that also ended up uncovering a dog-fighting ring.
We now know that the drug trafficking case won’t go to trial. Everyone involved plans to enter a guilty plea.
As for the dog fighting case, the majority of the people arrested plan to plea guilty, but there are still some who are considering taking it to trial.
Back in May, 12 people were arrested for drug trafficking in Gadsden County. Federal and local agents went undercover for two years to bust those involved.
Agents took hundreds of pounds of meth and cocaine after the bust. It's an operation so big, that there are still warrants for people involved.
About a month after the big bust, eight people were arrested for dog-fighting. Some of the people arrested are involved in both illegal operations.
Six people have already pled guilty in the drug trafficking case. Two have pled guilty to dog fighting charges.
Those involved in the drug case will have their plea hearing September 16. A plea hearing for the dog-fighting case is set for October 15.
Two people involved in a large scale dog-fighting and drug trafficking ring based out of Gadsden County could now face life in prison.
The animal cruelty case put eight people behind bars.
Randall Colston (aka Snoop) and Sariem McMIllian have both plead guilty on some of the charges they were facing in connection to an extensive investigation targeting a drug trafficking organization that also allegedly organized and conducted a large-scale illegal dog-fighting operation throughout the Northern District of Florida from 2014 to 2019.
Investigators found out the dog fighting was just one part of a larger drug operation in Gadsden County.
Colston is pleading guilty to more than a dozen counts including conspiracy to participate in animal fighting and possession of/training a dog for an animal fighting venture. McMillian plead guilty to a single count of conspiracy to participate in animal fighting.
The pair are due to be sentenced in federal court on Wednesday. If convicted, they face penalties up to five years imprisonment, another three on supervised release, and be required to a $250,000 fine along with an additional $100 fine for every count.
The other defendants, Jermaine Hadley, Devar Donaldson, Bob Streets, Zanntayfey Bennett, Dennis Howard, and Leonard Safford, have not entered in a plea related to the dog-fighting ring charges.
On May 8, Hadley, Donaldson, McMillian, and Colston, along with nine other Gadsden County residents, were also indicted on federal drug trafficking offenses for allegedly distributing methamphetamine, cocaine, and MDMA throughout the north, central, and panhandle of Florida between 2018 and 2019.
Colston and McMillian have both plead guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth, cocaine and MDMA. Additionally, McMillian has plead guilty to two counts related to distribution of meth.
If convicted on the drug charges, McMillian will face at least 10 years in prison, could spend the rest of his life behind bars, and be required to pay millions of dollars in fines. Colston will face at least than four years in prison and millions in fines.
Their sentencing is set for Wednesday. All the other defendants facing dog fighting charges will go to trial on October 29.
