Georgia Man Convicted of Conspiracy to Traffic Cocaine, Money Laundering

Drug trafficking ring brought narcotics to Jacksonville from Atlanta

August 17, 2007 -- TALLAHASSEE, FL – Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced that a Georgia man was convicted of conspiracy to traffic more than 400 grams cocaine and money laundering in a multi-state narcotics trafficking ring prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution. Aqeel Waleed Baruti was considered the main supplier of more than 100 kilograms of cocaine – with a street value ranging from $6 to $8 million – to the narcotics ring which operated out of Jacksonville. Baruti, of Atlanta, Georgia, will be sentenced at a later date.

“This individual was the leader of a multi-million dollar trafficking ring stretching across state lines and poisoning countless communities and he belongs behind bars,” said Attorney General McCollum. “We must and will continue to fight these drug dealers with every possible effort.”

Authorities determined that Baruti, 38, organized the shipment of cocaine from Georgia to Jacksonville to then be distributed throughout North Florida. As part of the investigation, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Drug Enforcement Agency seized $100,000 and four kilograms of cocaine, worth more than $400,000 in terms of street value. Baruti and nine coconspirators were arrested in January 2006 and were all criminally charged by the Office of Statewide Prosecution.

A Duval County jury returned today’s guilty verdict on one count of conspiracy to traffic more than 400 grams cocaine, a first-degree felony, and one count of money laundering, a second-degree felony. While Baruti faces up to 45 years in prison and fines up to $250,000 when he is sentenced, his charges carry a statutory minimum sentence of 15 years. Baruti’s co-defendants have all pled guilty to various trafficking charges and are also awaiting sentencing.

Source: Florida Attorney General

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