Gerardo Solorio-Alvarado, a Mexican national previously convicted on federal drug charges, and Nelson Enrique Sorto of Atlanta have been charged with federal offenses following the seizure of approximately 1,585 pounds of methamphetamine. The drugs were hidden in shipments of blackberries at locations in Southeast Atlanta and Gainesville, Georgia.
“These repeat offenders, including an illegal alien, allegedly attempted to conceal and traffic an enormous quantity of deadly methamphetamine in our community,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “We are thankful for the quick action of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners who apprehended these individuals and stopped nearly 1,600 pounds of methamphetamine from hitting the streets.”
FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown stated: “The FBI will never waver in our commitment to disrupt traffickers and prevent their dangerous drugs from reaching our streets, no matter where they try to hide them. Thanks to the quick response and dedicated efforts of our law enforcement partners, these repeat offenders will be held responsible for their crimes.”
Chris Hosey, Director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), commented: “This indictment serves as a clear message that drug trafficking has no place in our communities. It shows what can be accomplished when law enforcement works together with determination and purpose. We remain committed to working alongside our federal, state, and local partners to pursue and disrupt the plans of those who threaten our communities through drug trafficking.”
Hall County Sheriff Gerald Couch added: “These arrests and the confiscation of this massive amount of methamphetamine represent a major disruption to the criminals who traffic this dangerous poison in our communities. Hall County Sheriff’s Office investigators worked tirelessly in this case to hold accountable those who threaten the well-being of people in our county and communities across Georgia. I’m incredibly proud of the teamwork displayed by our investigators and our state and federal partners.”
According to court information provided by U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, on November 20, 2025, law enforcement officers surveilled a cold storage warehouse in Fulton County where three refrigerated box trucks were parked outside. Agents tracked one truck accompanied by an SUV driven by Sorto to a residence in southeast Atlanta. After Sorto inspected the truck’s cargo area, he left with two passengers; police later stopped his vehicle and found firearms along with containers holding blackberries.
A search conducted on the box truck parked at the Atlanta residence led agents from GBI and FBI to recover about 924 pounds of methamphetamine hidden among pallets of blackberries.
Simultaneously, another team followed a second box truck from the same facility to Gainesville. Solorio-Alvarado picked up its driver at a gas station before leaving; after a K9 unit detected narcotics odor during a search on the abandoned truck, agents found roughly 661 pounds more methamphetamine concealed within blackberry pallets. Solorio-Alvarado was arrested later at his home while attempting to flee; keys matching those for the abandoned truck were recovered inside.
Investigators determined that Solorio-Alvarado had previously served 17 years for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine as well as firearm possession related to drug trafficking crimes. Sorto is currently on probation for a 2024 conviction involving methamphetamine possession in Hall County.
Solorio-Alvarado was indicted December 2 on conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute charges; Sorto was charged December 1 via criminal complaint for possession with intent to distribute.
Authorities emphasize that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt at trial.
The investigation involves collaboration between multiple agencies including FBI, GBI, Hall County Sheriff’s Office—with support from Georgia State Patrol—and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Keen and Dwayne Brown Jr.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America—a Department of Justice initiative focused on combating illegal immigration impacts as well as dismantling cartels—and also fall under Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) activities established by Executive Order 14159 aimed at eliminating criminal organizations operating domestically or abroad.
Parents seeking information about drug dangers can visit www.justthinktwice.gov for resources provided by authorities.
For further details or media inquiries contact USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or call (404) 581-6016; additional information is available at http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
