CAIRO- Frederic Donald, 36, of Cairo, has been arrested in a months-long drug investigation, following a traffic stop last Monday at Gator’s Store.

According to Grady County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit Commander Captain Jake Bush, a Grady County Drug Agent conducted a traffic stop on Donald’s vehicle on Monday, November 11, 2024, at Gator’s Store. The agent was reportedly familiar with Donald and knew he had a suspended license.

As Donald was being searched before his arrest, agents located illegal prescription pills in his pocket. Agents then conducted a search of Donald’s vehicle, finding a large quantity of Methamphetamine, additional prescription narcotics, an unknown substance, plastic bags for packaging narcotics for sales, three digital scales, and Alpha PVP. Alpha PVP is a designer drug commonly referred to as “Flakka” on the streets.

When taking inventory of the items, agents found Donald to have been in possession of 491 grams of Methamphetamine, which is approximately 500 doses, and just over one pound.

The street value of this quantity can range from $3,000 to more.

Alprazolam and Oxycodone pills were revealed to be the prescription narcotics in Donald’s vehicle. The unknown substance is currently being tested by the crime lab.

“This traffic stop was the end of a months-long investigation by the Grady County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit into drug activity and Donald,” said Bush in a press release. “The investigation was started based on citizen complaints regarding Donald.”

Donald has been arrested and charged with a suspended license, trafficking in Methamphetamine, two counts of possession of a controlled substance, and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, while out on bond from another drug-related case in December of 2023. Donald is also on Federal Probation.

Due to this, Bush expects this case to be prosecuted at a Federal level, as the Federal system is usually a better option for longer sentences.

“Federal convictions also do not allow for parole and sentencing is usually 90 percent to the door,” he said. “For example, a person sentenced to serve 10 years is not eligible for early release until they have served nine years. Longer sentences for repeat offenders is a good recipe for putting a dent in our local drug trade.”

Sheriff Harry Young and the Grady County Sheriff’s Office said they are dedicated to making Grady County safer and work hard to combat drug trafficking in South Georgia, and especially Grady County. However, they cannot do it alone. They ask anyone with any information about illegal drug activity to contact the GCSO at 229-377-5200 and ask to speak to a drug investigator. Information can remain anonymous.