Two Life Prison Sentences for Major Athens Methamphetamine Dealer in Homeland Security Task Force Case

THENS, Ga. - The man who distributed hundreds of kilograms of methamphetamine from the Rapid Lube in Athens where he worked, covertly stashing boxes in the shop, was sentenced to life in prison today as part of a Homeland Security Task Force investigation into a cross-border drug ring moving thousands of kilograms of drugs from Mexico in boxes of jalapeños to a conversion lab in Monroe, Georgia.

James Len Ramey, 54, of Comer, Georgia, was sentenced to serve two life sentences in federal prison, one for each count to be served concurrently, after he previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Oct. 14, 2025. His federal sentence will be served consecutively to his undischarged terms of imprisonment in Habersham County, Georgia, Superior Court Case No. 13CR165RS and Lumpkin County, Georgia, Superior Court Case No. 2013CR183JP. U.S. District Judge Tilman E. "Tripp" Self III presided over the case. There is no parole in the federal system.

"Mexican drug cartels rely on local collaborators to move deadly illegal substances into our country and distribute them, like James Ramey. Without these willing participants, these poisons would never cross the border or devastate lives here," said U.S. Attorney William R. "Will" Keyes. "The Homeland Security Task Force is focused on dismantling violent organizations, and with our law enforcement partners, we will keep bringing every member to justice to protect our communities."

"This investigation is a prime example of the critical work being done to dismantle violent drug trafficking organizations that operate with impunity, bringing dangerous narcotics into our communities," said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Atlanta Office. "The FBI's role in this investigation, alongside our dedicated federal, state and local law enforcement partners, has led to the disruption of a significant methamphetamine operation and the arrest of multiple individuals responsible for poisoning our communities."

"Ramey pleaded guilty to conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine," said HSI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Steven N. Schrank. "He used his job at Rapid Lube, obtained through a prison work-release program, as a cover for trafficking. After his arrest, nearly 14 kilograms of meth were found hidden at the shop. By targeting every level of these operations - from international suppliers to local distributors - the Homeland Security Task Force is making our neighborhoods safer and sending a clear message that drug trafficking will not be tolerated."

"Methamphetamine destroys families, fuels violent crime and erodes the safety of our neighborhoods," said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. "By taking down this network of a dozen traffickers, we're not just removing drugs, we're removing the source of addiction, exploitation and tragedy in our communities."

"This investigation underscores the power of collaboration between federal, state, and local partners to dismantle large-scale drug trafficking operations that threaten our communities," said GBI Director Chris Hosey. "The sheer volume of methamphetamine seized in this case represents thousands of lives that could have been destroyed. The GBI remains committed to working alongside our partners to identify, investigate, and stop transnational criminal networks operating in Georgia."

"The vast amount of methamphetamine being supplied is truly alarming and serves as a strong reminder that even in safe, close-knit communities like Walton County, we must stay vigilant," said Walton County Sheriff Keith Brooks. "Collaboration at all governmental levels is essential for operational success, and we appreciate the strong partnerships."

"This investigation is another great example of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies working together toward the shared goal of keeping our community safe. I'm proud of the collaboration and teamwork invested in this case, which led to the seizure of a significant amount of dangerous drugs. These substances have devastating effects on our community and far too often claim lives unnecessarily. Because of the continued dedication of these men and women, there are fewer narcotics and violent offenders on our streets, and our community is safer as a result," said Athens Clarke County Police Chief Jerry Saulters.

According to court documents and statements made in court, the FBI in Athens received information in January 2024 that Ramey was selling kilograms of methamphetamine from Rapid Lube in Athens, where he worked. The FBI investigation revealed that Ramey was supplied with drugs by individuals operating a methamphetamine conversion lab inside a residence on Mountain Creek Church Road in Monroe (Walton County), who were receiving the drugs from Mexico, stashed in boxes of jalapeños. The methamphetamine was imported into the United States in liquid form, converted at a clandestine conversion laboratory, and ultimately distributed by Ramey to a network of downstream dealers. For more information about this case, including Ramey's co-defendants and the conversion lab, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdga/pr/defendants-face-justice-distributing-3200-kilos-methamphetamine.

The methamphetamine conversion lab located on Mountain Creek Church Road in Monroe. Common indicators of a conversion lab include piles of garbage bags, blacked-out windows, and strong chemical odors coming from the property. On August 13, 2024, agents executed a search warrant and uncovered an active lab containing enough liquid methamphetamine to produce more than 300 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine. The black garbage bags contained rotting jalapeños, discarded after unloading the trucks transporting the methamphetamine. Evidence from U.S. v. James Len Ramey, 3:24-cr-00024 in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia.

Ramey received approximately 30 kilograms of methamphetamine every two weeks from his Mexico-based source of supply, whom Ramey met while serving a state prison sentence for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute in Lumpkin County, Georgia, Superior Court. The investigation found that Ramey led a sophisticated drug trafficking network that relied upon Mexican suppliers, coded communications, couriers, stash locations, and conversion laboratories capable of producing hundreds of kilograms of methamphetamine.

Ramey took advantage of his employment at the Rapid Lube, a position obtained through a state prison work-release program to facilitate his transition back into lawful society, as the base of operations for his large-scale drug trafficking organization. Ramey would secretly store the drugs in boxes at the shop while coordinating transactions and directing the activities of couriers and distributors.

The drug evidence was packaged in oil filter boxes of varying sizes. Within the oil filter boxes, methamphetamine was packaged in a gallon-size plastic bag. Evidence from United States v. James Len Ramey, 3:24-cr-00024 in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia.

After Ramey's July 3, 2024, arrest and over the next several months, Rapid Lube employees uncovered an additional 13,992.57 grams of methamphetamine he had hidden at the shop. Ramey is responsible for distributing hundreds of kilograms of methamphetamine and repeatedly providing direct support to a Mexico-based drug trafficking organization by sending money across the border to pay for the narcotics he received.

This investigation and prosecution are part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative. The HSTF is a United States government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, transnational gangs, and transnational criminal organizations worldwide. This initiative identifies TCOs engaged in a wide range of criminal schemes that violate federal law, while dismantling cross-border human smuggling and trafficking networks that fuel violence and instability that threaten the safety and security of the United States and its global partners. It also places a particular emphasis on criminal offenses involving children and ensures the use of all available law enforcement tools to prosecute offenders and/or facilitate the removal of criminal aliens from the United States. Atlanta Wilhelm HSTF is comprised of agents and officers from the ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, as well as numerous state and local agencies, and the prosecution is being led by the Office of the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia.

The case was investigated by the FBI's Middle Georgia Safe Streets Gang Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), the Walton County Sheriff's Office, the Athens-Clarke County Police Department, and the Georgia State Patrol (GSP).

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Morrison is prosecuting the case for the Government.