Leader of Jacksonville Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to 35 Years for Operating Multi-Kilo Fentanyl and Methamphetamine Distribution Conspiracy

Jacksonville, Florida - Aaron Jarvis McGhee (40, Sumterville) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Timothy Corrigan to 35 years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. Johnny Angelo Pack (51, Jacksonville), Shikita Lashelle James (39, Jacksonville), Natra Antonio Jones (33, Jacksonville), and Bobby Warren Harvey, Jr. (28, Jacksonville) were also sentenced for conspiring to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl and methamphetamine. Pack, James, Jones, and Harvey were sentenced to 17 years and 6 months, 14 years, 12 years and 6 months, and 10 years, respectively. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to the court documents, in 2022 and 2023, at McGhee's direction, Pack, James, Jones, and Harvey operated a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that purchased fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine from Mexican sources of supply. They transported the drugs through Houston, Texas to Jacksonville, Florida where the drugs were sold. McGhee, already serving a federal prison term for a prior drug conspiracy conviction, used a contraband cellphone from prison to coordinate these transactions, which resulted in drug shipments across the southern U.S. border from Mexico into Texas. As part of the conspiracy, Pack secured these drug shipments and transported them back to Jacksonville using a semi-truck. Once in Jacksonville, Pack delivered the drug shipments to residences belonging to James, who stored and distributed the drugs to retail dealers in Duval and Clay Counties. James was also responsible for managing the DTO's money. Jones and Harvey served as runners for the organization in Jacksonville and were responsible for transporting drugs and drug proceeds.

Between March and May 2023, members of the DTO routinely flew commercially between Jacksonville and Houston. They typically stayed in Houston one day before flying back to Jacksonville. Their phone location data indicated that they remained close to the airport in Houston before taking return flights. On April 28, 2023, DEA agents observed James travel to the Jacksonville International Airport where she dropped off Jones and Harvey, both of whom were scheduled to fly to Houston. Agents observed Jones and Harvey each checking in two suitcases as luggage. The agents seized the four suitcases and secured search warrants for them. Inside the suitcases, agents recovered a total of $773,780 in cash, as well as approximately five kilograms of fentanyl.

On May 16, 2023, DEA agents executed search warrants at two of James's residences in Jacksonville, one on Mints Court, where Pack was living, and one on Cape Elizabeth Court, where James was living. Inside the Mints Court house, agents recovered approximately $28,000 in cash, approximately 5.4 kilograms of methamphetamine, and four loaded firearms. Inside the Cape Elizabeth Court house, agents recovered approximately $824,900 in cash, approximately 6.7 kilograms of fentanyl, 4.4 kilograms of methamphetamine, 1 kilogram of heroin, and five loaded firearms.

In total, between April 28 and May 16, 2023, agents seized more than 22 kilograms of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin from the DTO, as well as more than $1.6 million in drug proceeds. James used the drug proceeds on high-end luxury merchandise. Throughout the investigation, agents assembled evidence showing that the DTO was responsible for moving thousands of kilograms of drugs in less than a year.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Elisibeth Adams.

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 (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).