Over 1 kg Methamphetamine Seized: Fannin County Suspect Sentenced to 30 Years in Cherokee County, Georgia
A Cherokee County jury has sentenced Ricky Dwight Wright, 39, to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. This decision followed his conviction for trafficking more than one kilogram of methamphetamine, with the verdict reached after only 15 minutes of deliberation.
Wright was sentenced as a recidivist under Georgia law. According to regulations, trafficking more than 400 grams of methamphetamine carries a mandatory $1 million fine.
The case originated in the early morning of March 4, 2025, when a Woodstock police officer conducted a traffic stop on an Acura traveling northbound on Interstate 575. The stop was initiated after discovering an occupant in the vehicle had an outstanding warrant.
During the initial search, a passenger attempted to hide and then discard a drawstring bag containing 175 grams of methamphetamine. K-9 Tesa was subsequently deployed and alerted to more drugs in the vehicle. Police found another bag hidden under a towel on the rear floorboard containing approximately 993 grams of methamphetamine, bringing the total seizure to over one kilogram.
Assistant District Attorney Leland J. McElveen Jr. presented testimony from six law enforcement witnesses. Evidence included dashcam video, photos of the evidence, and text messages from Wright's phone showing a trip from North Georgia to Atlanta to obtain drugs.
District Attorney Susan K. Treadaway stated the sentence reflects the severity of the offense and the defendant's criminal history. Two co-defendants in the case had previously pleaded guilty: Ashley Nicole Hughes was sentenced to 15 years in prison and a $200,000 fine in November 2025, while James Lovejoy was sentenced to 30 years with 25 years to serve in prison and a $1 million fine in January 2026.
