A federal grand jury in the Northern District of Georgia has indicted 47-year-old Bartholomew Keeton Harralson from Atlanta on serious drug and weapons offenses, marking what officials describe as one of the largest pill pressing operations uncovered in the state.
Authorities have charged Harralson with possession with intent to distribute an array of dangerous substances, including fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and marijuana.
Additionally, he faces charges related to the possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, as well as possession of firearms by a convicted felon.
Reports indicate that Harralson had in his possession 28 firearms, which included a machine gun, along with hundreds of thousands of fentanyl-laced pills.
U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg emphasized the potential danger posed by Harralson’s operation, stating that the volume of fentanyl could result in fatal consequences for millions.
“This armed felon allegedly ran a massive fentanyl pill pressing operation in our community, producing enough deadly fentanyl to potentially kill millions of people,” he remarked.
The operation began with a federal search warrant executed on June 5 at Harralson’s residence in the upscale Wolf Creek neighborhood of southwest Atlanta.
Footage from a neighbor’s Ring camera captured the raid on Harralson’s home, where law enforcement agents uncovered over 56 kilograms of fentanyl, 84 kilograms of methamphetamine, nearly 10 kilograms of heroin, and four kilograms of cocaine.
Moreover, authorities seized nine firearms, $145,000 in cash, and an intriguing book titled, “How to Avoid Federal Drug Conspiracy & Firearms Charges.”
Harralson was arrested on-site during the operation.
Following this initial discovery, a search at Harralson’s Douglasville property later that day led to even more alarming findings, which included two industrial pill press machines capable of producing 25,000 pills per hour.
Agents also recovered three hydraulic presses, an additional 37 kilograms of fentanyl, over 1,300 pounds of binding agents, and hundreds of pill stamp dies, along with 19 more firearms, four drum-style magazines, and a substantial amount of ammunition.
During a press conference, officials announced that the drugs seized had an approximate street value of $9.2 million, marking the incident as the largest fentanyl seizure recorded in Georgia to date.
Fentanyl is recognized as a potent synthetic opioid, where just 2 milligrams can be lethal for individuals depending on various factors. One kilogram of fentanyl has the potential to be fatal for around 500,000 people.
Despite indications that overdose deaths have seen a near 24% decline in the year 2024, the opioid crisis remains a significant issue, especially as it is notably the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 44, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As Harralson faces his charges, the potential consequences are severe. If convicted on all counts, he could be sentenced to anywhere from 40 years to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
The investigation into Harralson’s operations was led by the FBI and DEA, in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, South Fulton Police Department, and Douglasville Police Department.
Prosecutor Thomas M. Forsyth, III is handling the case as part of Operation Take Back America, a national initiative targeting drug cartels and transnational criminal organizations through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods.
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