ROME, Ga. --- Three men, including an 83-year-old, are the latest to be sentenced to federal prison for taking part in the distribution of hundreds of kilograms of marijuana in Georgia and Tennessee for more than 20 years.
The three sentenced Thursday were the last of 10 sent to prison for their roles in importing drugs from Mexico into Chattooga, Whitfield, Floyd, Gordon, and Murray counties, in addition to Polk County, Tenn.
Among them was 83-year-old Paul Faulkner of Summerville, who got a 20-year sentence.
Prosecutors say Jose Hernandez, 40, originally from Mexico, was sentenced to 20 years, and Vance Rogers, 50, of Old Fort, Tenn., got three years and 10 months.
Authorities say an investigation started in 2005 found that Mr. Faulkner, his son Michael Smith, 46, and grandson James Faulkner, 39, had sold marijuana in Chattooga County and the surrounding areas for nearly two decades and had accumulated numerous assets, including nearly 40 properties with a total value of more than $1 million.
Mr. Smith, who was sentenced to nine years in prison and agreed to forfeit property bought with drug proceeds, was the primary distributor, authorities said. He lived on an isolated, multi-acre property where he could observe law enforcement approaching, and buried marijuana in ammunition cans, which customers would unearth and replace with money. Mr. Smith communicated with his customers using a pager system.
Investigators learned the family was being supplied by a group with ties to Mexico. This group was headed by Geronimo Gastelum, 34, of Kerman, Calif., who moved to north Georgia and began to supply multikilogram quantities of drugs in the area, including methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana.
Mr. Gastelum was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison.
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