Local & State Headlines

Bond lowered in Barfield drug case

• The federal government is moving to seize property owned by an Albany businessman, authorities said.

J.D. Sumner

COLUMBUS — A judge has lowered the bond for an Albany real estate developer accused of attempting to buy drugs from undercover agents in Columbus, court officials said.

George Andrew “Andy” Barfield, 54, has been jailed in a Muscogee County detention center since his arrest in January on drug trafficking charges.

Last week, a Muscogee County judge agreed to lower Barfield’s bond from $500,000 to $100,000 after attorneys argued that the higher amount was too excessive based on his assets which the federal government has moved to seize, prosecutor Larae Moore said.

Prosecutors have said previously that because of the amount of drugs Barfield was attempting to buy — about 11 pounds of cocaine — that they expect the case to be taken federally. Wednesday, officials with the U.S. Attorney’s Office confirmed that the move is in the works, but couldn’t put a timetable on when that would happen.

Agents with the Metro Columbus Narcotics Task Force arrested Barfield Jan. 25 at the Columbus Welcome Center after they say he attempted to buy the drugs during an undercover operation.

A joint operation between the GBI and the Albany-Dougherty Drug Unit has resulted in warrants being filed in Dougherty County alleging that Barfield used his cellphone to facilitate drug transactions. If Barfield does post a bond in Columbus, he would most likely be jailed in Dougherty County on those warrants here and would be required to post a bond before being set free, sheriff’s officials said.

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