Jury convicts Ray City man for armed meth trafficking

VALDOSTA — A Ray City convicted felon was found guilty by a federal jury late last week of armed drug trafficking resulting from a Project Safe Neighborhoods investigation.

Demetris Gervone Bellamy, 31, of Ray City, was found guilty of one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime before U.S. District Judge Hugh Lawson. Bellamy faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a $10 million fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 10. There is no parole in the federal system.

“Armed drug trafficking conducted by career criminals is a threat to our communities and will not be tolerated,” U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary said in a news release. “We are thankful to our local law enforcement partners for collaborating with us to keep our communities as safe as possible.”

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, a cooperating witness in a drug trafficking investigation informed law enforcement they received methamphetamine from a source named “Nitro,” who was later identified as Bellamy. Law enforcement conducted a controlled methamphetamine buy from Bellamy on Sept. 9, 2021, surveilling him exiting his Ray City residence carrying a bag and arriving at the location in Valdosta.

Bellamy fled the scene after he realized that law enforcement was present, tossing a bag of nearly 500 grams of methamphetamine immediately before he was apprehended. Investigators located a firearm in his car, along with a scale, baggies and quantities of other drugs. Post-arrest, Bellamy admitted to acquiring “30 bricks” of methamphetamine as well as the firearm found in his vehicle from another person.

A recorded jail call captured Bellamy telling a friend that he was going to get out of his charges because he tossed the drugs while he was running and the firearm was found in his vehicle, as opposed to on his person. Bellamy has a lengthy criminal history, including prior drug trafficking convictions. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a gun.

This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts

The case was investigated by the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hannah Couch is prosecuting the case for the government, with support from Criminal Chief Leah McEwen.

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