Local & State Headlines

Drug case may move

• The drug case against a local businessman may be moved to federal court, prosecutors say.

J.D. Sumner

ALBANY — A local real estate developer embroiled in a drug trafficking investigation was granted bond after a hearing in Columbus Monday, but will likely be jailed in Dougherty County if released, investigators said.

George Andrew “Andy” Barfield, 54, was issued a $500,000 bond Monday, three months after being jailed on drug charges by undercover drug agents at a Columbus welcome center, officials in Superior Court Judge John Allen’s office said..

Barfield, the owner and operator of Barfield Rentals and Construction, was arrested by members of the Columbus Metro Narcotics Task Force Jan. 25, when they say he attempted to by more than 11 pounds of cocaine.

State and local investigators said Tuesday that even if Barfield is able to raise the funds needed to get out of the Muscogee County Detention Center, he would likely face extradition to Dougherty County where he would remain jailed until he could post bond.

“He’s still got charges to answer to down here,” GBI Special Agent Mike Lewis said. “Until he is granted bond and posts that bond on the local charges then he’s going to remain in jail, regardless of whether he gets out in Columbus.”

After a joint GBI, Albany-Dougherty Drug Unit investigation, two warrants alleging Barfield used a phone to facilitate drug transactions were filed in Dougherty County, GBI Assistant Special Agent-In-Charge Mark Pro said Feb. 19.

Gray Conger, the Muscogee County District Attorney, said in a Feb. 19 interview that Barfield’s case was likely to head to federal court because of the depth of the charges.

As of Tuesday, however, Conger’s assistant district attorney, LaRae Moore, was still assigned to the case, according to department officials.

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