A Gainesville man convicted of trafficking multiple drugs including fentanyl and cocaine was sentenced to nearly 20 years in federal prison last week.
A release Thursday from the office of United States Attorney Ryan K. Buchanon said Lyedrekus Onetaye Bailey, also known as "Lala", was sentenced to 19 years and seven months in prison on January 12 by U.S. District Judge Steve C. Jones. His sentence also includes seven years of supervised release after his prison time.
Thursday's release said Bailey was convicted of trafficking fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin in the Gainesville area. The crimes dated back to 2005.
Authorities said Bailey sold fentanyl-laced heroin to undercover investigators on five different occasions between October of 2020 and February of 2021. Bailey was arrested when a Hall County Sheriff's deputy found four ounces of heroin hidden in the clothing of a passenger in the vehicle Bailey was driving.
“Drug dealers like Bailey act in callous disregard of the grave threat to life that results from their actions,” Buchanan said in Thursday's release. “Fentanyl and heroin trafficking is causing untimely deaths in and devastation to our communities. Bailey’s significant sentence should serve as a warning to others that our office is determined to expand our efforts, working together with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, to prosecute purveyors of illicit drugs like Bailey.”
Several local agencies assisted with the case, including the Hall County Sheriff's Office, the Gainesville Police Department, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office.
“This case serves as a strong reminder of our commitment to working with local, state, and federal partners to remove deadly poisons, like fentanyl, off our streets,” GBI Director Chris Hosey said. “The GBI will continue our work to make an impact on the current drug distribution crimes in Hall County and all of Georgia to promote a safer place for productive citizens.”
