Wilfort Foster, III, a 41-year-old from El Monte, California, has been sentenced to 28 years in federal prison. Foster pleaded guilty to charges related to narcotics and money laundering conspiracies. He led an operation that trafficked methamphetamine and fentanyl from California to North Georgia and laundered significant amounts of drug money.
“Our office partnered with a host of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to dismantle a significant, multi-state drug trafficking and money laundering network,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Foster’s 28-year prison sentence should serve as a robust warning to others who might consider trafficking deadly fentanyl and methamphetamine in North Georgia.”
“DEA is committed to going after money laundering networks that move cash made from the sale of illegal drugs in the United States,” stated Jae W. Chung, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division.
“This sentencing marks the end of a years-long effort to dismantle a dangerous drug trafficking network,” commented Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta.
“This significant sentence reflects the massive danger that fentanyl and illicit narcotics pose to our communities,” added Steven N. Schrank, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama.
Beginning in 2017 through 2022, Foster conspired with others to transport drugs from California to Cartersville, Georgia. He ran an illegal operation out of his barbershop which served as a stash house for large quantities of drugs.
After selling drugs, conspirators laundered over $600,000 back to Foster using shell companies. Despite being on probation for previous offenses involving methamphetamine and firearms, Foster continued his operations.
United States District Judge William M. Ray II sentenced Foster earlier today following his conviction on January 6, 2025. Another member of the organization received a 15-year sentence last year for related charges.
Several other defendants have pleaded guilty and await sentencing: Clifford Alexander (Gadsden), Frank Miller (Cartersville), Kenneth Antoine Scott (East Point), Lori Silvers (Rockmart), and Nia Thomas (Atlanta).
The case was investigated by multiple agencies including the FBI, DEA, Homeland Security Investigations among others under Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative targeting illegal immigration and criminal organizations.
Assistant United States Attorneys Calvin A. Leipold III, Matthew R. LaGrone along with former prosecutors Richard Beaulieu handled the case prosecution under OCDETF operations aimed at dismantling high-level criminal organizations.
For more information or assistance contact U.S Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or visit their website at http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga
