A Blairsville man has been given 18 years, four months in prison for his role in a heroin and methamphetamine distribution ring at Ware State Prison in Waycross.
Kevin Bristol Patterson, 35, was incarcerated at the prison and used a contraband cell phone to arrange drug deals outside the prison walls, according to a statement from U.S Attorney John Horn in Atlanta.
“Patterson’s determination to commit crimes was not dampened by his incarceration,” said Horn.
“This case represents another example of the dangers that contraband cell phones inside of the prison system pose to our citizens outside the prison.”
Patterson was sentenced Wednesday for conspiring with a fellow inmate, Alex Mauricio Altamirano, 26, of Norcross, who put him in touch with Denis Miguel Pineda, 30, of Atlanta, a drug dealer in Atlanta. Patterson pled guilty in August.
Patterson arranged a drug deal with Pineda, whose buyer was working with police. Pineda sold 650 grams of methamphetamine and 334 grams of heroin on five separate occasions to the buyer, giving a $500 kickback to Patterson each time.
Patterson pled guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute meth and heroin, and five counts of possessing meth and heroin with intent to distribute, said Horn.
He will also serve five years of supervised release.
Pineda was given 12 years, seven months in prison following his conviction May 23, while Altamirano was given 10 years for his May 11 conviction.
