Career-Criminal Drug Trafficker Sentenced In Multi-State Cocaine, Marijuana Distribution Conspiracy

Serial felon ordered to federal prison for more than 15 years

SAVANNAH, GA:  A Savannah man with an extensive felony record will spend more than 15 years in federal prison for his part in a cross-country drug-trafficking conspiracy.

United States District Court Judge William T. Moore Jr. sentenced Keith Jamal Brigham, a/k/a “Glock,” 44, to 188 months in federal prison after Brigham pled guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 500 grams or More of Cocaine and Marijuana, announced Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney Bobby L. Christine.

Brigham has six previous felony narcotics-related convictions in state court. His latest sentence, however, is in federal court, and there is no parole in the federal system. His sentence will be served consecutive to a sentence for violating state parole. Upon release from federal prison, Brigham will be on federal supervised release for four years.

Brigham was part of a coast-to-coast drug trafficking organization that spanned from California to Savannah. As outlined in court records and in various hearings, marijuana sales were used to finance cocaine purchases, with cash proceeds hidden in candy machines and shipped to hubs in Atlanta and California. Co-conspirators in those areas shipped pounds of marijuana and kilograms of cocaine to Savannah via U.S. Mail and in vehicles with hidden compartments.

While on state parole for a previous drug conviction, Brigham served as a major cocaine dealer in Savannah for the drug trafficking organization. During the investigation, agents intercepted him on court-authorized wiretaps and seized more than 600 grams of cocaine from his residence as well as 1.5 kilograms of cocaine that was attached with magnets in the rear fender wells of a vehicle to thwart detection by law enforcement. Authorities also seized more than $17,000 in cash.

Brigham was in frequent phone contact with several co-conspirators, including Karteau Jenkins, who is alleged to be the main source of supply of cocaine for the drug trafficking organization. Jenkins is alleged to have coordinated with Eugene “Poncho” Allen, who is alleged to be a ringleader of the drug trafficking organization despite currently serving a life sentence for murder in a Georgia state prison. Allen is alleged to have run his organization using smuggled contraband phones.

Allegations and charges presume the defendants are innocent unless and until proven guilty.

 A federal grand jury in August 2017 charged 20 defendants with drug trafficking offenses related to this investigation; most of them have pled guilty. During this investigation, agents seized eight firearms, more than 200 pounds of marijuana, multiple kilograms of cocaine, and hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash.

“It’s astonishing that a drug trafficker could continue to peddle poison in our communities despite multiple felony convictions – but for Keith Brigham, that ends today,” said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “Through coordinated efforts of law enforcement agencies and prosecutors, we are determined to take these criminals off our streets and out of our neighborhoods.”

“Despite six felony convictions, Brigham chose to continue to plague our streets with drugs and the crimes that result from it,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Atlanta Field Office. “It is our hope that after more than 15 years in federal prison, without any option for parole, he will come to the realization that his actions will not be tolerated by the FBI and our law enforcement partners.”

This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Chatham County Narcotics Unit (CNT), the Savannah Police Department, the Chatham and Effingham County Sheriffs’ Offices, the United States Postal Inspector’s Office and the United States Marshals Service. This case is being prosecuted as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) program, which is the premier law enforcement unit whose task is to dismantle multi-jurisdictional drug trafficking organizations. This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney/Assistant District Attorney Noah Abrams, and Assistant United States Attorneys Greg Gilluly and Frank Pennington.

For any questions, please contact Barry Paschal at the United States Attorney’s Office at (912) 652-4422.