MACON, Ga. – The final of 20 defendants, a Georgia man described as the second-in-command to a Mexican national leading an illegal drug pipeline in the state, was sentenced to prison for supplying kilograms of methamphetamine and heroin resulting from a multi-agency investigation into a drug trafficking ring centered in Milledgeville, Georgia.Noe Canela, 37, of Lilburn, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 260 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release on April 2, after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances on Jan. 6, 2026.“Noe Canela is being held accountable for trafficking large quantities of dangerous drugs from a Mexican cartel into Georgia. This case proves that justice will prevail, no matter how long it takes,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes.

“Thanks to the collective efforts of law enforcement agencies at every level, significant quantities of dangerous drugs have been kept off Georgia streets, and the offenders have been brought to justice.”“Those who distribute methamphetamine pose a grave danger to the community. These traffickers can no longer deliver dangerous drugs on the streets and must now face the consequences of their actions,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division.“The dangers associated with methamphetamine remain one of the most significant drug threats facing our community,” said Robert Gibbs, Senior Supervisory Resident Agent of FBI Georgia’s Macon office. “With the help of our federal, state and local partners, this is a significant amount of poison that will not make it into our communities, driving crime and violence.”“Illegal drugs are dangerous and threaten the safety of Georgia communities,” said GBI Director Chris Hosey.

“The GBI is committed to getting these drugs off the streets by bringing to justice all those that take part in the illegal drug trade, from the supplier down to the dealer.”"Noe Canela evaded justice while maintaining his criminal enterprises and ties to a Mexican cartel," said Baldwin County Sheriff Bill Massee. "We are grateful he has been taken into custody, brought before the court and held accountable for his crimes. Baldwin County and Georgia are safer as a result."The following co-defendants have been sentenced:Jarvis Havior, aka “J Bo,” 34, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 360 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on July 13, 2023, after he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on Feb. 16, 2023;Nicholas Cuevas-Flores, 40, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 260 months in prison to be followed by two years of supervised release on July 13, 2023, after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances on Feb. 28, 2023;Anrico Taylor, aka “Rico,” 38, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 160 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on July 11, 2023, after he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on Feb. 28, 2023;Matthew Cameron, 50, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 150 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release on Oct. 31, 2023, after he pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Oct. 5, 2022;Dawn Carey, 50, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 121 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on April 6, 2023, after she pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine on Oct. 13, 2022;Bruce Harrison, 43, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release on Nov. 2, 2022, after he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on Aug. 31, 2022;Arturo Marshall, aka “Turo,” 44, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 100 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on July 13, 2023, after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances on Feb. 28, 2023;Tyrone Hitchcock, aka “TY,” 51, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 85 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on Jan. 4, 2023, after he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on Oct. 12, 2022;Paul Collins, 63, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 57 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on June 18, 2024, after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances on Feb. 28, 2023;Annie Collins, 24, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 63 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on July 13, 2023, after she pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on March 7, 2023;Paul Bentley aka “Old School,” 59, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 60 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on Aug. 6, 2025, after he pleaded guilty to one count conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Feb. 20, 2025;Alicia Nugent, 41, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 60 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on July 13, 2023, after she pleaded guilty to one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on Feb. 28, 2023;Lamont Jackson, 51, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 48 months in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release on July 13, 2023, after he pleaded guilty to one count of the unlawful use of a communication facility on Feb. 28, 2023;Perry Miller, 43, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 48 months in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release on July 13, 2023, after he pleaded guilty to the unlawful use of a communications facility on Feb. 28, 2023;Dwight Turner, aka “Wight,” 60, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 48 months in prison to be followed by two years of supervised release on Jan. 11, 2024, after he pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of methamphetamine on Aug. 30, 2023;Ryan Rickard, 53, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 41 months in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release on Feb. 14, 2024, after he pleaded guilty to one count of the unlawful use of a communication facility on Feb. 16, 2023;Amber Vanclief, 35, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 15 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on May 3, 2023, after she pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Feb. 9, 2023;Macarthur Reeves, aka “Mac,” 70, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve three years of probation on May 3, 2023, after he pleaded guilty to one count of the unlawful use of a communications facility on Feb. 16, 2023; andParis Binion, 32, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to time served to be followed by one year of supervised release on Nov. 9, 2023, after she pleaded guilty to one count of the unlawful use of a communications facility on Feb. 28, 2023.U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell presided over the case.

There is no parole in the federal system.According to court documents, agents with the DEA, the GBI and the Ocmulgee Drug Task Force received credible information in June 2020 from multiple confidential sources that Havior was leading a multi-kilogram methamphetamine drug trafficking organization in the Milledgeville community. An investigation determined the location of his distribution “trap” houses and “stash” houses for bulk narcotics and cash that Havior and his criminal associates maintained. For more information about the Havior drug trafficking network, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdga/pr/milledgeville-based-meth-distribution-leader-sentenced-30-years-prison.Investigators found that Canela was the source of supply for Havior and that Canela would often use Flores as a go-between, who would meet with Havior and his associates to deliver the drugs. Havior would obtain bulk amounts of methamphetamine from Canela and Flores and then sell the drugs to local dealers.On Oct. 28, 2021, Flores was stopped and arrested in Atlanta after a controlled delivery of 15 kilograms of methamphetamine.

State search warrants were immediately sought and executed for a Rockbridge Road residence in Stone Mountain, Georgia, where Flores resided. When law enforcement entered the home, Canela was found inside wearing gloves, appearing as if he was cleaning out the house after learning of Flores’ arrest. Inside the home, agents found 67 pounds of methamphetamine (approximately 30.39 kilograms), one kilogram of heroin and a handgun.The same day, authorities executed a search warrant on Canela’s Lilburn, Georgia, residence on Bailey Drive. Multiple pounds of marijuana were seized, and evidence of a methamphetamine laboratory was discovered in the basement.

Agents found Canela’s cell phone used to communicate with Havior about drug transactions along with his passport and several plane tickets showing his recent trips to Texas.On January 11, 2022, a 17-count federal indictment was issued in the Middle District of Georgia, charging the co-defendants with multiple offenses related to the Milledgeville drug trafficking ring investigation. An arrest warrant was issued for Canela, who remained a fugitive until the U.S. Marshals took him into custody on Aug. 5, 2025, in the Northern District of Georgia. Canela is being held account for supplying at least 17,069 grams of methamphetamine directly to the Havior drug trafficking organization, which was obtained in six controlled purchases conducted by law enforcement, as well as approximately 30 kilograms of methamphetamine, 2,020 grams of heroin, multiple pounds of marijuana and a Polymer80 firearm with an extended magazine (also known as a “ghost gun”) that was seized at the Stone Mountain residence in October 2021.This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.This case was investigated by the DEA, the FBI, the GBI, the Ocmulgee Drug Task Force, the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the Georgia Department of Corrections, the Milledgeville Community Supervision Office, the Wilkinson County Sheriff’s Office, the Jones County Sheriff’s Office, the Atlanta-Carolina’s HIDTA Office and the Gwinnett Metro Task Force with assistance from the U.S.

Marshals Service.Criminal Chief Leah McEwen prosecuted the case for the Government.