Leader of Middle Georgia Armed Drug Trafficking Organization Pleads Guilty

MACON, Ga. - A Macon resident with a prior federal conviction who is the leader of an armed drug trafficking organization based in Middle Georgia faces a maximum of life in prison for supplying large quantities of methamphetamine.

Julian Derwayne Coker aka "Red" aka "Bread Red," 43, of Macon, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Oct. 22, and faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years up to a maximum of life in prison to be followed by ten years of supervised release and a $20,000,000 fine.

The following codefendants have pleaded guilty and/or been sentenced:

Jonathan Kelly McBride, 49, of Macon, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Oct. 23, and faces a maximum of 20 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $1,000,000 fine;

Rodney Sentell Hardin aka "Rod," 44, of Macon, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of methamphetamine on Oct. 9, and faces 20 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $1,000,000 fine;

Lisa Nanette McNeer, 47, of Macon, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on Oct. 22, and faces 20 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $1,000,000 fine; and

Erin Marie Jones, 49, of Macon, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on June 5, and was sentenced to serve 48 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on Sept. 5.

U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell is presiding over this case. For those awaiting sentencing, the dates of their hearings will be determined by the Court. There is no parole in the federal system.

"Armed drug trafficking organizations promote violence and sow chaos in our communities," said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. "Our office is committed to disrupting criminal networks, reducing gun violence and building safer communities."

"The streets are safer, and Georgians can sleep a little easier knowing that these armed drug dealers are locked up and their days of peddling drugs in our communities are over," said Supervisory Senior Resident Agent Robert Gibbs of FBI Atlanta's Macon office. "The FBI remains committed to combatting drug trafficking and taking armed violent criminals off the streets through our joint efforts with our law enforcement partners."

"Drug trafficking organizations disrupt society and poison our communities with violence and illegal drugs," said GBI Director Chris Hosey. "Their actions threaten the safety of the citizens of Georgia, and the GBI and our partners will not allow these organizations to go unchecked. This case is an example of this commitment to protect the communities of Georgia and hold criminals accountable."

According to court documents and statements made public in court, the FBI began investigating Coker's drug trafficking organization (DTO) in 2022, which led to multiple controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Coker and Hardin and other investigative actions. Sales of illegal drugs occurred on Feb. 13, 2022, and March 24, 2022, with Hardin selling methamphetamine he obtained from Coker to a confidential source.

Coker sold methamphetamine to a confidential source five times between June and Sept. 2022 at locations in Macon. Wiretaps revealed that Coker was supplying methamphetamine to Hardin and other individuals. Agents executed multiple search warrants on Nov. 15, 2022, including at Coker's residence on Forsyth Road. Agents found methamphetamine in pill and crystal forms stashed in an air fryer and a bag in the kitchen. The crystal methamphetamine weighed 11,166.01 grams and ranged in purity from 96% to 100%; the pressed pill methamphetamine weighed 79.87 grams. Agents found a 9mm pistol inside of a jacket embroidered with Coker's alias "Bread Red" and seized $13,891. In all, Coker's DTO is responsible for the distribution of dozens of kilograms of methamphetamine. Coker has a criminal history, including a prior federal controlled substance distribution conviction.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven and multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

The case was investigated by the FBI and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI).

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joy Odom is prosecuting the case for the Government.

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