GA man found guilty of charges in Columbus armed drug trafficking investigation
A Georgia man was found guilty Wednesday in federal court on criminal charges that stemmed from an armed drug trafficking investigation in Columbus, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Thursday.
Nimesh Vijay Desai was found guilty of one count of possession of methamphetamine, one count of possession of fentanyl, one count of possession of heroin, one count of possession of a firearm and one count of possession of firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, the DOJ said.
Desai faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, according to the DOJ. No sentencing date was provided in the news release.
Court documents and statements show two search warrants were executed by law enforcement Feb. 28, 2024, at a Columbus apartment and a storage unit leased to Desai, the DOJ said.
The searches led to the seizure of 2.2 kilograms of methamphetamine, 800 grams of fentanyl and heroin, scales, grinders and $12,800, the news release says.
Seven firearms, ammunition and magazines that belonged to Desai were recovered, the DOJ said.
Desai was on federal supervised release at the time of the searches for his 2012 convictions in the Middle District of Georgia for distributing methamphetamine, possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and assaulting federal agents with a deadly weapon, the news release says.
Desai’s supervised release was revoked for his prior convictions, and he is serving 60 months in federal prison for the prior convictions, according to the DOJ.
“This defendant callously picked up right where he left off from prior convictions,” FBI Georgia Acting Special Agent in Charge Peter Ellis said in the news release. “The FBI will continue to investigate anyone who repeatedly violates the law by illegally arming themselves and committing crimes that continue to harm the community.”
The case was presided over by U.S. District Judge Clay Land and prosecuted by Criminal Chief Leah McEwen, The Harris County Sheriff’s Office helped the FBI with the investigation, according to the news release.