News Releases
OUTLAW RECEIVES LIFE SENTENCE FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING IN BANKHEAD AREA OF ATLANTA
October 17, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
David E. Nahmias, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, and Vanessa McLemore, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, announce that today United States District Judge Clarence E. Cooper sentenced DWAN OUTLAW, 39, of Atlanta, Georgia, for conspiracy to distribute cocaine, crack cocaine, and marijuana, possession of firearms by a convicted felon, and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. According to Nahmias and the documents and information presented in court:
DWAN OUTLAW was sentenced to life in prison, plus 15 years, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
On May 5, 2005, a federal jury convicted DWAN OUTLAW, JEREMIAH PRATHER, 25, of Atlanta, Georgia and DWAN OUTLAW’s cousin, TERRY OUTLAW, 41, of Atlanta, Georgia of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, crack cocaine, and marijuana. DWAN OUTLAW and JEREMIAH PRATHER were also convicted of firearms violations.
On August 16, 2005, JEREMIAH PRATHER was sentenced to 15 years in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, and on September 21, 2005, TERRY OUTLAW was sentenced to 9 years, 10 months in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release.
The evidence at trial showed DWAN OUTLAW led the drug conspiracy in which PRATHER and TERRY OUTLAW were members. The three defendants controlled several homes in the Bankhead/Simpson Road area of Atlanta where drug sales amounted to approximately $22,000 daily. The sales included cocaine, crack cocaine, and hydroponically produced marijuana. The evidence showed DWAN OUTLAW used threats with firearms, physical abuse and intimidation to control at least three other convicted co-conspirators in the drug ring, defendants KELLY ROBERTS, 37, LYDIA HEADSPETH, 24, and LESTER PIPPINS, 41, all of Atlanta, Georgia. Each of these defendants was sentenced earlier this year to five years in federal prison, and they are currently serving those sentences for their roles in the OUTLAW drug conspiracy.
This was a Project Safe Neighborhoods case investigated by Special Agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, and the Atlanta Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorneys Francey Hakes and Angela M. Jordan prosecuted the case.
For further information please contact David E. Nahmias (pronounced NAH-me-us), United States Attorney or Sheila T. Arnum, through Patrick Crosby, Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Attorney's Office, at (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the HomePage for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia is www.usdoj.gov/usao/gan.