Chinese nationals sentenced after pleading guilty in Georgia drug trafficking conspiracy

WAYCROSS, Georgia: Six defendants in a southern Georgia drug trafficking operation have been sentenced to prison in federal court.

The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood and announced by Margaret E. "Meg" Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. They include:

• Chen Hui Shu, 36, of Hunan, China, was sentenced to 30 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
• Jin Peng Ma, 35, of Taishan City, Guangdong, China, was sentenced to 29 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
• Lecai Huang, 68, of Taishan City, was sentenced to 30 months in prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
• Wei Sheng Deng, 41, of Guangzhou, China, was sentenced to 30 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
• Zhu Sheng Bing, 65, of Taishan City, was sentenced to 30 months in prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
• Zhi Yong Ma, 54, of Taishan City, was sentenced to 29 months in prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance.

There is no parole in the federal system. Upon completion of their prison terms, each defendant will be delivered to a duly authorized Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer for deportation proceedings.

"This case highlights how the actions of steadfast law enforcement officers led to the discovery and dismantling of a massive drug distribution operation in southern Georgia," said U.S. Attorney Heap. "Our exceptional partners in law enforcement have contributed greatly to their community by eliminating this large-scale, illegal marijuana growing factory."

As described in court documents and testimony, after multiple reports of the smell of marijuana originating from a specific property in Pierce County, an investigation was launched in July 2023, which thereafter expanded to another property Brantley County.

During the course of the investigation, including extensive surveillance, a search of the properties revealed two large-scale indoor marijuana grows, complete with irrigation, grow lights, and multi-stage production facilities. In total, between the properties in Pierce and Brantley Counties, law enforcement seized approximately 15,000 marijuana plants. The proceeds of this operation were traced internationally. The properties located in Pierce and Brantley Counties were subsequently forfeited to the United States in March 2026.

"The successful takedown of this network sends a clear message that our law enforcement partners remain united and unwavering in the effort to identify, investigate, and dismantle organizations that threaten the safety of our neighborhoods," said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. "This operation highlights the power of collaboration at the federal, state, and local levels."

The Drug Enforcement Agency, Brantley County Sheriff's Office, and Pierce County Sheriff's Office assisted in the investigation of these cases, which were prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patricia G. Rhodes, Tara M. Lyons, J. Bishop Ravenel, and Darron J. Hubbard.