Antonio Pierre Ashmeade, the last of thirteen individuals prosecuted for their involvement in a large-scale drug trafficking operation associated with the “Paper Gang Family,” was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison, according to a May 6 announcement from authorities.
The sentencing concludes a multi-agency Homeland Security Task Force investigation that targeted narcotics distribution and related crimes in the Atlanta area. The case underscores ongoing efforts by law enforcement to disrupt organized crime and reduce the presence of dangerous drugs in local communities.
“This HSTF investigation and federal prosecution disrupted an extensive drug distribution ring run by metro-Atlanta gang members,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “The defendants’ lengthy sentences, which must be served without the possibility of parole, demonstrate that the potential financial gains from trafficking dangerous street drugs are not worth the consequences.”
Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division, said: “This case is a testament to the strength of our partnerships. Federal, state, and local law enforcement worked side by side to dismantle this organization piece by piece. Today’s sentencing underscores what we can accomplish when we stand united against drug trafficking.”
According to information presented during court proceedings, investigators began tracking activities tied to PGF—a group described as an ostensible rap music label—in 2019 after observing members conducting open-air drug deals near school bus stops. Law enforcement recovered significant quantities of narcotics over several years: approximately 10,000 fentanyl pills, 25 kilograms of methamphetamine, 20 kilograms of cocaine, and about thirty firearms linked to PGF operations.
Ashmeade was convicted on December 17 for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine following a jury trial. Other defendants received sentences ranging from nearly three years up to fifteen years for charges including conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances or firearms offenses.
The Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation with assistance from multiple federal and local agencies including U.S. Marshals Service; Georgia State Patrol; several county sheriff’s offices; Georgia Bureau of Investigation; police departments across north Georgia; among others.
This prosecution forms part of broader efforts under Executive Order 14159—Protecting the American People Against Invasion—by leveraging interagency collaboration through initiatives like Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) aimed at dismantling criminal cartels and gangs nationwide.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia serves as principal federal law enforcement agency covering over seven million residents across north Georgia mountains and metropolitan Atlanta areas while prioritizing threats such as terrorism and human trafficking according to its official website.
